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November 1994, Retrieval of T-33 in Osceola National Forest. 155 lb. captive bred Texas cougar used in Florida Panther Reintroduction Feasibility Study. Photo by S. Williams OSVNV. |
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 | 9 year-old in the Big Cypress area. Photo by W. McCown |
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 | Captive Bred Florida panther of Piper stock; "Bart", Photo courtesy of Wildlife Encounters, Gainesville, Fl. |
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 | 9 year-old panther male (#17) taken in the Big Cypress area on 1/20/87. Weighed 142 lbs. and inhabited ranch land in norther Collier and southern Hendry counties. He was a resident (dominant) male that had a large home range. He weighed 154 lbs. on 1/26/89 when he was recaptured to change his collar. He died on 7/20/90 of unknown causes. He was found on top of an active alligator den, but there was no indication that the alligator had caused his death or fed on him. (Photo by W. McCown) |
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 | Florida panther #19 in Big Cypress National Preserve. #19 was born in May 1986 and her parents were #11(mother) and #12(father). She was first captured and radio-collared at 9 months of age on 2/9/87 when she weighed 49lbs. The photo was taken when she was 18 months old and weighed 70lbs. To date, she is the youngest known female to have kittens. She produced her first litter at 22 months of age. Because female offspring don't disperse far from their mother (unlike males) #19 had her kittens and spent much of her early years within her mother's home range. #19 is still alive and spends most of her time these days in the Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge. |
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These Florida panther kittens were examined at 14 days of age in April, 1994 on private land just north of the Big Cypress National Preserve in south Florida. They are offspring of Florida panther #56, a female captured and radio-instrumented near this site two months previous. A female panther will usually have her first litter at 2 years of age or older. A litter may range in number from 1 to 4 and the kittens will remain with their mother for 12 to 18 months. Important diseases believed to impact kitten survival include Feline panleukopenia virus (FPV) and the hookworm Ancylostoma pluridentatum. Panthers that are captured during research activities are routinely innoculated for FPV and treated for worms. Assessing maternal productivity and kitten health is an important aspect of the panther recovery project. Only one kitten from this litter (middle) is known to have survived to adulthood. |