Can Florida panthers be relocated farther away from people?
Where Florida panthers currently live is the only remaining habitat in south Florida suited to their needs. Reintroduction of the Florida panther into other areas of its historic range is a possibility that, unfortunately, has not met with much public acceptance. More outreach education is necessary to bring awareness that ecosystems evolved with predators to retain an ecological balance that can enhance our quality of life. Q. Do pumas living in Florida zoos or sanctuaries count as Florida panthers? Only those cats part of the natural, wild population of pumas in Florida are considered Florida panthers. The vast majority of pumas in zoos and sanctuaries represent other, more common subspecies. Rarely, a Florida panther will be removed from the natural population because of difficulty surviving in the wild and moved to captivity. The Jacksonville Zoo and Lowry Park Zoo in Tampa, Florida currently have true Florida panthers.
