Dear Thomas,
Thanks to all your voices, the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) has announced that they are pausing the directive to remove Florida panther (FP) 260 from the wild!
FWF believes all agency actions need to be made based on sound science and research. FP 260 has never been a threat to humans and has only exhibited normal panther behavior.
Thank you to all our supporters who sent in letters opposing the decision to remove FP 260. Your advocacy played a critical role in giving FP260 a reprieve! It’s important to note that USFWS has only agreed to pause its plans to remove this individual panther. Now, they must reverse the decision completely in accordance with science and established protocols. Then we can address the larger issue of ensuring proper and effective compensation programs to ranchers who suffer monetary losses.
The rare Florida panther is the symbol of wild Florida. We must act now to keep it on the landscape for ourselves and future Floridians.
