AR-News: (US FL) Fla. officials tout panther program

[Animalara2003 at aol.com]

Texas cougars credited with revival
By PAMELA SMITH HAYFORD, phayford at news-press.com
 Published by news-press.com on April 12, 2004

A program that put eight Texas cougars into the wilds of Florida nine years 
ago is succeeding, state wildlife officials say, despite recent controversy.  
Most photos of the Florida panther show them in trees because about the only 
time they are seen is when scientists corner cats in trees to collar and 
vaccinate them. Special to news-press.com 
Indeed, the state is touting its successes partly in reaction to new 
concerns. 
Earlier this year, three panthers — an adult and two kittens — showed up in 
the small community of Pinecrest, nestled between Big Cypress National 
Preserve and Everglades National Park. 
Normally, a Florida panther runs at the sight of humans. But these didn’t. 
Jan Michael Jacobson, director of the Everglades Institute, said he believes 
the Texas genes in the Florida pool made the cats more aggressive. He cites a 
study that counts 53 cougar attacks on humans in the western United States and 
Canada. 



full story:

http://www.news-press.com/news/local_state/040412panthers.html 
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