Majestic wildlife abounds across the National Park System. You can see wolves, grizzlies and bison in Yellowstone, California condors at Pinnacles and Grand Canyon, moose in Voyageurs, and sea turtles at Cape Hatteras and Padre Island, and elephant seals at Point Reyes National Seashore, just to name some of the possibilities.

Another charismatic species in the park system, but one you’re not likely to see, are panthers. Also known as mountain lions, or cougars, depending on the region of the country. These are big stealthy cats, most often on the move after dark, which is why you’re not likely to spot one. 

South Florida is best known as home for the Florida panther. Another reason you might not spot one of these cats is because there are so few of them.

Conservationists at the South Florida Wildlands Association fear the population of the iconic Florida Panther may have dwindled to as few as 100 cats.  They don’t know for sure, though, because the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has not released a species status assessment and population count since 2009. And without current information, the fight for the panther’s existence and efforts to curtail development that threatens it, are more challenging than ever.  

In this week’s podcast, the Traveler’s Lynn Riddick speaks with the executive director of that organization to hear about their latest efforts to address the assaults on the panther’s habitat and their approach in protecting this incredible, endangered creature.