Another endangered Florida leopard, killed by traffic – CBS Miami

PALMDALE, Fla. (CBSMiami/AP) – It’s less than two weeks into the new year and another endangered Florida panther has died after being hit by a car.

This is the leopard’s second death from a fatal collision, out of two this year in total, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

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The remains of a 3-year-old male leopard were found Sunday along a rural road southeast of Palmdale in Glades County, wildlife officials said.

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According to state records, a total of 27 Florida leopards died last year, with 21 deaths attributable to vehicles. This is up from a total of 22 deaths in 2020.

Florida panthers once roamed the Southeast, but now their habitat is mostly confined to a small area of ​​Florida along the Gulf of Mexico. As many as 230 Florida leopards remain in the wild.

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(© Copyright 2022 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All rights reserved. Associated Press contributed to this report.)