OTHER CRITICAL ENVIRONMENTAL 

 REQUIREMENTS 



Because of its scarcity and secretive nature, 

 almost nothing is known of the behavioral and 

 environmental requirements of this species. It is 

 believed to require large expanses of undisturbed 

 habitat without human interference (Layne 1970). 



The panther's home range is unknowTi, but 

 speculations vary from 150km^ (Layne 1971) to 

 1,000 to 2,000km^ (Leposky 1975a). 



POPULATION NUMBERS AND TRENDS 



Specific information on population trends are 

 not available, but Sealander and Gipson (1973) 

 and Layne and McCauley (1976) feel that the 

 population has been on the increase in recent 

 years. Current estimates of the population in 

 Florida are between 30 and 300 (Wilhams (1979). 



REPRODUCTION 



Little is known about the reproduction of the 

 Florida panther. Most of the information availa- 

 ble is from the western subspecies. Panthers begin 

 to breed at 2 to 3 years of age (Hall and Kelson 

 1959, Young and Goldman 1964). Breeding is 

 believed to occur year-round with births peaking 

 in February (Schwartz 1952, Frye et al. no date). 

 Other sources indicate that panthers breed in the 

 spring or fall (Maynard 1883, True 1891). 



Davis (1966) states that females start the 

 courtship and mating act. Males will fight for 

 first breeding privileges. Copulation is followed 

 by subsequent unions with other males (Lowery 

 1974). The gestation period is 90 to 98 days 

 (True 1891, Asdell 1964, Young and Goldman 

 1964). Litter size varies from 1 to 6 (Hall and 

 Kelson 1959) with 2 or 3 being typical (Asdell 

 1964, Young and Goldman 1964). 



Panthers usually breed every 2 years (Asdell 

 1964, Young and Goldman 1964, Rogers and 

 Crowder 1974). There are a few reports of two 

 litters being born within a 12- or 15-month 

 period (Asdell 1964, Hornocker 1970). 



MANAGEMENT AND CONSERVATION 



The Florida Panther Recovery Team was 

 organized in July 1976, with the main objective 

 to develop a recovery plan "... that delineates 

 and schedules those actions required for securing 

 or restoring . . ." the Florida panther ". . . as a 

 viable, self-sustaining member of its ecosystem." 

 A rough draft has been developed which calls for 

 four major efforts (R. C. Beldon personal com- 



munication): 



1. Find and delineate present populations. 



2. Develop a captive breeding program for possi- 

 ble restocking in the future. 



3. Develop a public education program. 



4. Develop a program to evaluate present rules 

 and regulations regarding panthers, and form- 

 ulate new ones where necessary. 



The Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Com- 

 mission (R. C. Belden personal communication), 

 has outlined an investigation to locate and delin- 

 eate the present population, and if found, to 

 determine important habitat and management 

 needs to assure continued survival. To locate and 

 delineate the present population, a central "Flor- 

 ida Panther Record Clearinghouse" will be set up 

 to receive panther records. The public will be 

 advised whom to contact and what to report. 

 These records will then be analyzed and collated 

 into a list of priority areas to be searched for 

 panther sign. Intensive field searches will be con- 

 ducted in areas with positive sign of a panther 

 population. Efforts will be made to determine 

 habitat utilization and population dynamics. All 

 information will then be analyzed to determine 

 panther habitat needs and to develop appropriate 

 management strategies. 



AUTHORITIES 



Ken C. Alvarez (Recovery Team) 



Division of Recreation and Parks 



Florida Department of Natural Resources 



P.O. Box 398 



Osprey, FL 33559 



Robert E. Baudy (Recovery Team) 

 Rare Feline Breeding Compound 

 P.O.Box 132 

 Center Hill, FL 33514 



Robert C. Belden (Recovery Team Leader) 

 Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commis- 

 sion 



4005 South Main Street 

 Gainesville, FL 32601 



James N. Layne (Recovery Team) 

 Archbold Biological Station 

 Route 2, Box 180 

 Lake Placid, FL 33852 



Brian Noles (Recovery Team) 

 Appalachicola Ranger District 

 P.O. Box 578 

 Bristol, FL 32321 



