A tiny panther kitten was rescued by a team of biologists from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). The adorable little kitten was found facing certain death, had the rescuers failed to provide much needed medical attention.
The panther kitten was found in Collier County last month while a team of biologists was conducting field research. Along with FWC biologists, a number of scientists from the Conservancy of Southwest Florida were also present during the rescue. When the tiny 1-pound male kitten was first spotted, the young panther was suffering from dangerously low body temperature.
"We want to give any panther kitten the best opportunity to survive in the wild," said Dr. Mark Cunningham, a FWC veterinarian. "But clearly this kitten was in poor condition and almost certainly would have died without intervention."
Shortly after finding the kitten, the biologists on site brought him to the Animal Specialty Hospital of Florida for medical treatment. When the kitten arrived at the hospital, veterinary professionals rushed to provide life-saving treatment. The treatment was effective and the kitten's condition stabilized. However, 24-hour monitoring was still required to make sure that the young panther made it through the first few days of treatment.
Once the veterinarians at the animal hospital made sure that the kitten was well enough to travel, biologists took him to the Lowry Park Zoo in Tampa. The kitten is now on the road to a full recovery but scientists say that he may never be released into the wild. Since the kitten was separated from his mother very early in its life, biologists doubt that the kitten has learned the necessary skills to survive in the wild on its own.
The kitten will spend the rest of its life in captivity. However, the young panther will also serve an important role. Once the kitten has matured enough, biologists plan on relocating him to the Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park were visitors would be able to view him. In the future, the young kitten will be able to help scientists with their research about panthers. Moreover, the young panther will also be able to help raise awareness about his brethren in the wild.
"This kitten exemplifies how joint efforts of the FWC, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and our partners are helping recover imperiled species in Florida," said Kevin Godsea, manager of the Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge for the USFWS. "We are certainly pulling for him and hope he leads a long, healthy life."
