Florida panthers, once widespread throughout the Southeast, are now one of America’s most endangered big cats. Federal officials released a recovery plan nearly 20 years ago but panthers have since lost more than 30,000 acres of habitat, mostly due to development. Meanwhile vehicle collisions remain a leading cause of death. In the newest episode of our Sounds Wild podcast, cohost Mike Stark travels into Florida panther country with Center senior Jason Totoui for an on-the-ground look at the challenges facing these iconic cats.

Episode credits: 

Produced, edited and mixed by Mike Stark and Vanessa Barchfield

Artwork by Izzi Stein

Music by Up Rabbit Mountain

 

The Center for Biological Diversity is a national, nonprofit

conservation organization with more than 1.8 million members and online

activists dedicated to the protection of endangered species and wild

places.