The Florida Panther, or Puma Concolor Coryi, is a subspecies of
cougar that lives in the
Florida Everglades.
Florida panthers are the smallest subspecies of cougar. They have proportionally larger paws than other cougars, which aids them in walking through swamplands. They primarily prey on white-tailed deer and wild hogs, but will also hunt smaller mammals when necessary.
Florida panthers are highly endangered, with only an estimated 70 left in the wild. However, this is up from 30 several years ago, as several conservation groups have attempted to boost the population over the past decades by introducing cougars from other parts of the US. These cougars add much needed genetic diversity to the line, and this has allowed the population to grow considerably. Habitat loss and hunting are the primary reasons for the panther's plight.