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FLORIDA PANTHERREINTRODUCTION FEASIBILITY STUDY
Florida Panther SymposiumMarch 21, 2014
Chris Belden
Reintroduction was included as a strategy for panther recovery in the original Florida Panther Recovery Plan in 1981 and has been included in all three revisions.
Recovery Objective: to achieve three viable, self‐sustaining panther populations within the historic range.
Accomplishing this Recovery Objective would require at least 2 additional populations within the historic range.
Objectives
1. To determine the feasibility of using translocated wild panthers to reestablish Florida panther populations.
Objectives
1. To determine the feasibility of using translocated wild panthers to reestablish Florida panther populations.
2. To evaluate an initial stocking of at least 10 panthers as a means of establishing a panther population in northern Florida.
Objectives
1. To determine the feasibility of using translocated wild panthers to reestablish Florida panther populations.
2. To evaluate an initial stocking of at least 10 panthers as a means of establishing a panther population in northern Florida.
3. To compare the performance of wild‐caught animals with captive‐raised animals in the initial release.
Objectives
1. To determine the feasibility of using translocated wild panthers to reestablish Florida panther populations.
2. To evaluate an initial stocking of at least 10 panthers as a means of establishing a panther population in northern Florida.
3. To compare the performance of wild‐caught animals with captive‐raised animals in the initial release.
4. To determine the feasibility of adding new animals to an established population.
Objectives
PUBLIC SUPPORT
PUBLIC SUPPORT
• Informational Brochure for distribution to key contacts and media
PUBLIC SUPPORT
• Informational Brochure for distribution to key contacts and media
• Key Contacts made 4 to 6 January 1993; community leaders and public officials
PUBLIC SUPPORT
• Informational Brochure for distribution to key contacts and media
• Key Contacts made 4 to 6 January 1993; community leaders and public officials
• Reimbursement for Livestock Losses – Barnett Bank of Florida agreed to indemnify FGFWFC against livestock losses valued up to $10,000
PUBLIC SUPPORT
• Informational Brochure for distribution to key contacts and media
• Key Contacts made 4 to 6 January 1993; community leaders and public officials
• Reimbursement for Livestock Losses – Barnett Bank of Florida agreed to indemnify FGFWFC against livestock losses valued up to $10,000
• Press Conference at release site 12 February 1993
PUBLIC SUPPORT
• Informational Brochure for distribution to key contacts and media
• Key Contacts made 4 to 6 January 1993; community leaders and public officials
• Reimbursement for Livestock Losses – Barnett Bank of Florida agreed to indemnify FGFWFC against livestock losses valued up to $10,000
• Press Conference at release site 12 February 1993
• Hunt Clubs Meeting – invited representatives of 58 hunt clubs to meeting at Lake City Community College on 16 March 1993
Texas mountain lionsused as surrogates for Florida panthers
Category Males Females Total
Captive‐Raised 2 4 6
Wild‐Caught/Captive‐Raised 0 3 3
Wild‐Caught 6 4 10
TOTAL 8 11 19
Categories of Study Animals
Males vasectomized (not neutered)
All animals radio instrumented (radio collar and implantable transmitter)
Held In Release Pens 14 days – Soft Release
200 x 320 Miles
22 February 1993 – 30 June 1995
3,658 locations in 859‐day period(7,626 lion‐days)
FOUR LIONS DID NOT ESTABLISH HOME RANGES
• T30 removed 66 days after release – landowner concerns• T35 illegally shot 56 days after release• T38 killed by vehicle 140 days after release• T47 removed 37 days after release – wouldn’t follow mother
Lion group n x̄ ± SE
Captive females 3 19.0 ± 7.94B
Captive males 2 26.0 ± 3.00B
Wild/captive females 2 2.5 ± 2.50A
Wild females 3 103.7 ± 56.07B
Wild males 5 136.6 ± 44.64B
Days to establish home ranges
Lion group n x̄ ± SE
Captive females 3 101.0 ± 46.65B
Captive males 2 92.5 ± 52.50B
Wild/captive females 2 89.5 ± 53.50B
Wild females 3 102.0 ± 15.40B
Wild males 5 647.6 ± 249.47A
Size of home range (km2)
Lion group n x̄ ± SE
Captive females 3 17.9 ± 2.62B
Captive males 2 19.1 ± 0.22B
Wild/captive females 2 16.9 ± 7.43B
Wild females 3 34.7 ± 17.12B
Wild males 5 123.8 ± 21.50A
Home range center distance from
release site (km)
Population make‐up
DatesSexRatio %Ca %W/Ca %Wa
Areautilized(km2)
Density (lions/ 100 km2)
February '93 ‐ June '93 1:3 75 0 25 225 1.8
July '93 ‐ April '94 1:4 60 0 40 190 2.6
May '94 ‐ November '94 1:6 57 29 14 418 1.7
December '94 ‐March '95 0:4 50 25 25 267 1.5
April '95 ‐ June '95 1:3 25 25 50 127 3.1
Characteristics and density of the mountain lion population in northern Columbia County, Florida, 22 February 1993 to 30 June 1995.
aC = Captive‐born, W/C = Wild‐caught/captive‐held, W = Wild caught
Close to House29%
At Deer Feeders43%
Along Road14%
In Woods14%
At Deer Feeders17%
Along Road33%
In Woods50%
Mountain Lion Sightings
6 Captive‐Raised Mtn. Lions14 Sightings
10 Wild‐Caught Mtn. Lions6 Sightings
Newborn calves T02, T32, T45
Exotic ungulates T36, T41, T49
Horse T33
Hog T33
Housecat T33
DEPREDATIONS
Seven mountain lions involved in 8 depredation incidents
FGFWFC indemnified against livestock losses up to $10,000 by Barnett Bank of Florida
MORTALITY
T35 and T36Illegally shotT37 and T38Killed on highways
T39 Died in a snare
T44 Capture mortalityT50 Killed on highwayT52 Illegally shot
PERSISTANCE
Wild‐caught x = 460.240 days, SE = 90.920
Captive‐raised x = 329.667 days, SE = 101.446
Good publicity first 1 ½ years
Bad publicity last 6 months
Not In My Back Yard!
CONCLUSIONS
• Reestablishment of additional Florida panther populations is biologically feasible.
‐‐ Advantages and disadvantages of both captive‐raised and wild‐caught translocated animals.
• Social problems will have to be solved before reestablishment of additional Florida panther populations is feasible.
• Select reintroduction sites
• Evaluation of public attitudes
• Citizen participation to develop informed consent
NEXT STEPS