TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — A young Florida panther who was injured in a vehicle collision has found a permanent home at ZooTampa Lowry Park, serving as conservation ambassador.
The male panther, named Loper, was struck by a vehicle in Southwest Florida last July. There are an estimated 120 to 230 Florida panthers that remain in the wild. In 2024, more than 30 panthers died in vehicle collisions, the leading cause, marking the highest death toll since 2016.
Loper was taken to an Emergency pet hospital in Fort Myers, where he underwent surgery to repair fractures to his radius and ulna.
Due to the specialized medical needs of an injured exotic animal, Loper was placed in the care of ZooTampa to receive intensive rehabilitation care…