The
Florida
Panther
is a
large,
long-tailed,
pale
brown
cat that
grows
to six
feet
or longer.
Its habitat
corresponds
to the
white-tailed
deer,
the mainstay
of its
diet.
It is slightly
smaller and
lighter than
the western
Mountain Lion
or Puma.
A very
reclusive animal,
population
growth is
the
primary
threat
to
the
panther's
range
and
continues
to
diminish
existing
habitats. As
few
as
50
animals
are
believed
to
exist
in
the
wild.
The
Florida
Panther
has
been
protected
from
legal
hunting
in
Florida
since
1958 and
was voted
the official
state
animal
by Florida
school
children.
