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The purpose of the Friends of the Florida Panther Refuge (‘Friends’) is to support the goals of the Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge (FPNWR) and promote a better understanding and appreciation of the National Wildlife Refuge System.
The FPNWR was established under the Endangered Species Act to protect the Florida panther and its habitat, conserve fish, wildlife, and plants which are listed as endangered and/or threatened, as well as for managing, conserving, and protecting fish and wildlife resources.
The Friends will achieve this purpose primarily through education, outreach advocacy, and being an active partner in Refuge projects. Our efforts will be concentrated on protecting the native flora and fauna found in the FPNWR. A further goal of our efforts will be to conserve, protect, and restore the Florida panther and its habitat within its historic range.
Notwithstanding any other provision of these By-Laws, the purposes for which this organization is formed is exclusively charitable and educational within the meaning of Section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954.
Use the first paragraph of the new statement as the lead in for the front page

Friends of the

Florida Panther

Refuge Schedule of

Events 2013

The Friends of the Florida Panther will participate in the fun events during the Winter and Spring of 2013. COME JOIN US


Friends of the Florida Panther Refuge Annual Meeting
April 11th, 2013
5:30PM - 7:30PM

*Ben Nottingham, Refuge Manager*
*Who’s Studying Who – Jaguars Were Watching Us*

Join us for an exciting presentation about another big cat of the Americas – the jaguar! Like the Florida panther, the jaguar is threatened by habitat fragmentation. Ben Nottingham will share his photography and stories about a field ecology study in a remote area of Belize that now serves as part of a wildlife corridor through Central and South America.


For more information, click here


Florida Governor Rick Scott declares March 16, 2013 as
"SAVE THE FLORIDA PANTHER DAY"

For more information, click here


BACK TO THE WILD



FWC Photo by Tim Donovan

On the evening of January 31st, biologists with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) released back into the wild a female Florida panther at the Picayune Strand State Forest in Collier County. The female and her brother were orphaned at 5 months of age after their mother was found dead in Corkscrew Watershed. Too young to fend for themselves, the orphans were relocated to White Oak Conservation Center in Yulee Florida in September, 2011. In partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and FWC, White Oak works to rehabilitate injured or orphaned Florida panthers and return them to their homes in South Florida (plans are in place to release the brother into a different area sometime in the near future). Panthers rehabilitated at White Oak have contributed to the wild population, with one female producing at least 12 kittens after her release. The Friends, together with all involved in this unique program wish her well and hope she will continue to thrive and have many kittens!
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INTERCHANGE IN CRITICAL PANTHER HABITAT SHELVED BY COLLIER COUNTY COMMISSION

The proposed interchange at I-75 and Everglades Blvd. has been shelved by the Collier County Commission indefinitely! This is good news for the remaining Florida panthers. The proposed interchange is not needed and would further degrade and fragment panther habitat.
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Tools for conservation

  • Encounter a Panther? Call
    888-404-3922
update

 

December 2012 Update

The latest news from our Panther Biologists as well as information on captures, collaring and more!
go to Panther Updates

 

 

Panthers in Picayune Kicking Up Their Heels!

kicking up heels

Story by: Stacy Shelton. Darryl Land photo

line

FWC rescues 2 orphaned panther kittens

rescued kittens

Friday, September 23, 2011
Media contact: Gabriella B. Ferraro, 772-215-9459

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