In last week’s class, we looked into different endangered species as well as various threats to biodiversity found today. I’ve always had a soft spot for animals. It’s a tragedy hearing about all the different endangered species around the world, a truth that, while unpleasant, must still be addressed. As such, I decided to do some research on endangered species found in Florida.
I visited the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service online (http://www.fws.gov/endangered/) to do my research. There was a long list of endangered species, but the most interesting one in my opinion was the Florida Panther (Puma concolor coryi). The Florida panther is a subspecies of cougar traditionally found in the forests and swamplands of southern Florida. That is, until more recent times.
Despite conservation efforts, the Florida panther has difficulty surviving mainly due to space issues. A breeding unit of Florida Panthers is usually one male and four to five females. In the wild, this unit usually needs at least 200 square miles of habitat. That is to say, a population of only 200 panthers would require at least 4,000 square miles of habitat with sufficient genetic diversity to prevent inbreeding. For reference, 4,000 square miles is over three times the size of the state of Rhode Island.
Clearly, there are flaws in saving the Florida Panther Population. A major flaw is humanity itself. The human population is constantly increasing, more homes are built as more people move. While the earth is a large place, space is still limited. Animals take a backseat to mankind, and that will be their ultimate downfall. For, while we are constantly trying to save animals and help them strive, we are also concerned with our own wellbeing and comfort. The Florida Panther cannot find it’s way past the “endangered” status of humankind continues building more homes and roads, their prime environments are being destroyed! Perhaps it is in human’s nature that we take over, growing like a parasite on the planet. While the Florida panther needs at least 200 square miles of space to survive, we need as much space as possible to continue to grow stronger. Our prey, the wildlife around the world, are inferior to our intellect and thus powerless against our reign. It’s tragic, and shouldn’t be so, but in a world where “survival of the fittest” is applicable to wildlife, mankind finds itself at the top of the list. 
After talking about endangered species, I immediately thought about endangered species around me. Some of these species include the Florida Panther, the manatee, and the key deer.
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