Panther Shot Near Henry Correctional
LABELLE, FL. -- A reward of up to $15,200 is being offered by a diverse group of organizations for information that leads to an arrest and/or a conviction in the shooting death of a Florida panther.
The panther was found on April 21, 2009 near the Hendry Correctional Institute on private property bordering the Big Cypress National Preserve, in Hendry County, Fla. The panther is believed to have been shot within a week prior to its discovery. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) special agents and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) investigators are jointly investigating the case.
There are only about 100 Florida panthers left in the world. The Florida panther is protected under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA), which currently lists the species as "endangered." This means the Florida panther is in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range. The ESA makes it unlawful for a person to take a listed animal without a permit.
Take is defined as ''to harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, or collect or attempt to engage in any such conduct." If convicted criminally, the federal penalty is up to one year of imprisonment, $100,000 fine per individual or $200,000 per organization. In addition, State of Florida Statute 372.0725 makes it a third degree felony to kill or wound any species designated as endangered or threatened. The state penalty is up to five years in jail and/or up to a $5,000 fine.
Anyone with information regarding this case should call the USFWS�s Office of Law Enforcement, in Fort Myers, Florida at (239) 561-8144. Those wishing to stay anonymous should call the FWC�s Wildlife Alert Line at 1-888-404-3922.
The USFWS contributed $5,000 to the reward fund and the FWC contributed $1,000. Other contributors to date are:
The Humane Society of the United States and The Humane Society Wildlife Land Trust; The Bergeron Family of Companies;
The Florida Wildlife Federation; Defenders of Wildlife; The Everglades Coordinating Council; The Florida Airboat Association; and
Big Cypress Sportsmen�s Alliance.
Hope they catch the dumb arse...
ReplyDeleteHow, cruel are people with guns who kill another
ReplyDeleteperson or animal, who has no defense against them. They have no way to protect themselves not
even a the mountian lion, who in the state of Florida is close to becoming a thing of the
past. I doubt if their are 100 left in the state!
I am appalled. I am simply appalled. Maybe this person doesn't like Florida panthers, but does he/she have absolutely no respect for the many of us who want this important top predator to continue as part of our precious wildlife heritage kept for ourselves and our children? Is there no end to the arrogance to which some people will go?
ReplyDeleteThe mountain lions of South Dakota finally got established there, so guess what, they have started to allow hunting them. Please sign my petition at
ReplyDeletehttp://www.ipetitions.com/petition/BlackHillsMountainLions/