"Florida conservation groups say they plan to sue after the federal government greenlit another development that threatens the habitat of the panther, the official state animal."
"The honey-colored Florida panther inhabits the southwest corner of the state, mostly occupying a remote swath of cypress swamps, sawgrass prairies and other natural and agricultural lands that constitute less than 5 percent of the large feline’s historic range.
Recent research indicates the panther’s population has dwindled over the last decade to a mere 120 to 230 individuals and may be in jeopardy.
Much of the land the panther occupies is protected as part of the Everglades, a vast watershed that is responsible for the drinking water of millions of Floridians. As the state’s explosive growth and development continue to pressure the panther’s habitat, there is another gathering threat. Tides in South Florida are projected to rise by as much as a half-meter by 2040 and a full meter by 2070, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS). Just a half-meter of sea level rise would result in the loss of 973 kilometers or 11 percent of panther habitat."
