POLK COUNTY, Fla. – The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) updated its Panther Pulse data on Friday morning, confirming the death of a three-year-old male Florida panther following a roadside rescue in Polk County.
The panther, logged as UCFP499, was located on January 28. At the direction of the FWC, a veterinary team from ZooTampa responded to the scene to provide an assessment and medical intervention for the injured animal.
After evaluating the severity of the cat’s condition, the veterinary team determined that the injuries were not survivable. Consequently, the panther was humanely euthanized on January 29. Biological evidence suggests the injuries were sustained during a vehicle collision, which remains the primary cause of mortality for the species in the wild…