Rare FL Panther Kittens Thrive: See Photos

FLORIDA — A rare litter of three Florida panther kittens was recently checked out by wildlife biologists, the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission Fish and Wildlife Research Institute wrote in a Facebook post.

The kittens are believed to be between 2 and 4 weeks old.

Florida panthers are classified as an endangered species under the federal Endangered Species Act of 1973, according to Florida State Parks. There are about 120 to 230 adult panthers in Florida.

FWC biologists, using data from the mother’s GPS collar that shows when she would leave the den to hunt, quickly found the den to assess the kittens. Each kitten was sexed, weighed, dewormed and microchipped, the agency said. They also had a biopsy sample taken for genetic assessment.

The litter’s mother lost the three kittens in her previous litter from last season. They were likely killed by a black bear based on evidence the FWC team collected.

“The survival rate for Florida panther kittens to make it to year one is low — only 32 [percent,]” FWC said. “It’s tough being a panther; it’s even tougher being a Florida panther kitten!”

Over the past 33 years, the FWC panther team has sampled 527 kittens, providing data about the species’ litter size, sex ratios, den site selection and more.

Most of the breeding population for the state's panthers is restricted to south Florida below the Caloosahatchee River.

Florida residents can support research and conservation efforts by purchasing a “Protect the Panther” license plate or donating to the Florida Panther Fund.