Reasons for decline : Hunted and trapped relentlessly as a "pest" species; 

 elimination of habitat through extensive deforestation; decline in numbers (until 

 comparatively recently) of primary prey species, the white-tailed deer. 



Protective measures already taken : Protected by law in New Hampshire since 1967; 

 both North Carolina and Virginia passed laws in 1971 giving the panther complete 

 protection. 



Measures proposed : Surveys should be conducted in areas with most reports of 

 sightings to ascertain if panthers actually do occur, and to make estimates of their 

 numbers and distribution . States not now offering protection to panthers should 

 be encouraged to do so. 



Number in captivity : None . 



Breeding potential in captivity : Based on experience with other races of F . concolor , 

 the breeding potential of F . c . cougar should be good . 



References: 



Cahalane, V. H. 1964. A preliminary study of distribution and numbers of 



cougar, grizzly and wolf in North America. New York Zoological 



Society, 12 pp . 

 De Kay, James E. 1842. Zoology of New York, or the New York fauna. 



Albany, 146 pp. 

 Young, Stanley P., and Edward A. Goldman 1946. The puma, mysterious 



American cat. American Wildlife Institute, 358 pp. 

 Wright, Bruce S. 1971. The recovery of the panther in eastern North America. 



Paper presented at the International Symposium on the Ecology, Behavior 



and Conservation of the World's Cats. Laguna Hills, California. 



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