Notice of Availability of a Draft Revised Recovery Plan for the Florida Panther for Review and Comment

Resumo

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) announces the availability for public review of a draft revised recovery plan for the Florida panther, Felis concolor coryi. A single population estimated to number 30 to 50 adults represents the sole known remaining population in the wild. This population utilizes approximately 3 million acres of habitat on public and privately owned lands in south Florida. Existing data indicate that the Florida panther will likely go extinct without actions to restore genetic health to the population. The draft plan is an abbreviated revision of the 1987 revised plan. It was prepared specifically to incorporate a task designed to restore and maintain the historic genetic character of the Florida panther. The Service solicits review and comments from the public on this draft revision.