There were several experiments with Texas Cats in Florida. A couple involved releasing them in North Florida, which is part of the historic range of these animals, but well away from the SW Florida area that they are confined to today. In 1995 8 female Texas Cougars were released into South Florida, with the hope of making the offspring of Texas-Florida Cats more genetically robust. Anyway, all the Texas Cats were tracked and some had litters in 1998. With a estimated population of about 50 total individuals, I think it is safe to say that of the panthers that are left, a good number of them are probably still true Florida Panthers. A more diverse gene pool is a good thing though. Just my two cents...



Joe

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• Rare sighting while herping: Florida Panther - Oxyrhopus, Tue Aug 23 15:03:28 2005
• That's awesome!! - Matt Harris, Tue Aug 23 15:14:27 2005
• RE: That's awesome!! - Oxyrhopus, Tue Aug 23 19:00:39 2005
• Kinda sick question... - EJ, Tue Aug 23 21:44:07 2005
• RE: Kinda sick question... - Oxyrhopus, Tue Aug 23 21:57:03 2005
• I believe that - the_Ox, Wed Aug 24 08:34:31 2005
• big cats - EJ, Wed Aug 24 12:25:35 2005
• RE: I believe that - mayday, Wed Aug 24 14:54:48 2005
• RE: I believe that - Canes05, Wed Aug 24 21:37:52 2005
• Nice find..... - mayday, Wed Aug 24 14:59:26 2005
• It's pretty rare to the extent that........ - Oxyrhopus, Wed Aug 24 17:23:24 2005
• RE: damn.... - Jeff Lemm, Thu Aug 25 17:22:44 2005