How to Restore the Florida Panther: Add a Little Texas Cougar [Slide Show]
Introducing female cougars from Texas has helped the Florida big cats rebound
![How to Restore the Florida Panther: Add a Little Texas Cougar [Slide Show]](https://www.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/C21F8D34-D752-4210-AF7C7DEAED4EAB3F.jpg?w=590&h=393)
How to Restore the Florida Panther: Add a Little Texas Cougar [Slide Show]
- HABITAT DESTRUCTION HABITAT DESTRUCTION
The biggest challenge facing the Florida panther may no longer be inbreeding but rather continuing habitat loss as the region's population of humans grows and expands into swampland once dominated by the big cats. More and more of the pumas bear the scars of battles for territory as their habitat shrinks. © Science / AAAS - COLLARING THE BIG CAT COLLARING THE BIG CAT
Treed cats are also outfitted with radio collars, if possible; 182 animals have been collared since the program began in 1981. Scars on this cat's face tell the tale of struggles with other males for territory. Courtesy of Larry W. Richardson (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) - MAMA & KITTENS MAMA & KITTENS
The introduction of eight female pumas from Texas has helped reduce inbreeding and resulted in more offspring, as evidenced by this mother and her three, still-dependent kittens, captured by an infrared-trigger camera in Picayune Strand State Forest in July 2006. Courtesy of David Shindle (Conservancy of Southwest Florida)
