FWC Fish and Wildlife Research Institute
Roughly 75 years ago the Florida panther, a unique subspecies of the North American cougar, was nearly extinct when there were only 10 estimated to be left in the wild during the 1950s. After decades-long concerted efforts to save the species, wildlife biologists in Florida received incredible news when they captured the heaviest Florida panther ever recorded and fit it with a GPS-tracking collar for research purposes.
In a recent post to social media, the FWC Fish and Wildlife Research Institute shared photographs of the operation. They were able to capture, sedate, and affix the GPS collar onto the massive male Florida panther which weighed 166 pounds.
This marked the heaviest a panther has ever weighed in the wild here in the Sunshine State, truly a remarkable milestone in the efforts to help this subspecies rebound. The FWC Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, the state’s agency tasked with protecting this majestic species, shared photos of the operation to put a GPS collar on what they discovered was the heaviest Florida panther ever measured in the Sunshine State…
Heaviest Florida Panther Ever Measured In The Wild
FWC Fish and Wildlife Research Institute
That photo is a great reminder to be aware of your surroundings and to be sure to look up in addition to watching your feet. There’s no telling what might be lurking in the trees above. Here the Florida Fish and Wildlife field biologists prepare to catch the panther after it was tranquilized:
FWC Fish and Wildlife Research Institute
They quickly got to work measuring the giant cat, taking blood samples, hair samples, and affixing a GPS collar to it so the cougar’s movements could be tracked. For the most part, biologists have a pretty good idea of which parts of Florida these cats roam (the Everglades, etc) but having detailed information and being able to track them over long periods of time provides crucial data.
FWC Fish and Wildlife Research Institute
Look at the size of this panther’s paw compared to the person’s hand in the glove. An absolute UNIT.
FWC Fish and Wildlife Research Institute
On Facebook, the FWC Fish and Wildlife Research Institute wrote “FWC biologists recently captured and collared the heaviest Florida panther ever recorded, an adult male weighing in at 166 pounds! This effort is part of a long-term research program that monitors panther movements, health and population dynamics. This project provides essential data for conservation efforts on the endangered Florida panther.”
The FWC’s post went on to say “when collaring a panther, biologists conduct a comprehensive health assessment that includes blood tests and collecting tissue samples for genetic analysis. The GPS collars deployed on panthers allow researchers to track movement patterns, survival, reproduction and habitat use, all of which help inform science-based management strategies that are critical to the recovery of this population.”
I’m a born-and-raised Floridian, was in the Boy Scouts growing up and went camping every weekend with my family when it wasn’t too hot, and I’ve never seen one of these in the wild. There were reports of a Florida panther in/around my neighborhood last year, close to a nearby nature preserve and animal rescue.
It was believed the cat was drawn in by the smells and potentially the sounds of the other animals at the rescue, but I never got a chance to see one. I simply cannot wrap my mind around what it would be like to be walking around at the Corkscrew Swamp or somewhere in the Glades and see 166 pound cat staring at you… Thrill of a lifetime, to be sure.