According to reports, this week, a panther was killed after getting hit by a car in Collier County, Florida. As per reports, 17 panthers have been killed by motorists until now this year. Florida drivers have eliminated approximately
10% of total panther population in a period of seven months. According to the best estimates, the remaining wild panther population is left only between 100 and 180 animals.

According to statistics that have been maintained by the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission, during last year, Florida drivers killed 24 panthers. Panthers are mostly killed after getting hit by automobiles so, it is the major reason behind panther mortality and it accounts for approximately two thirds of all killings of panthers each year. As per reports, this number is rising.

However, it is not a big concern for the Conservation Commission. At present, the commission is thinking about a proposal, put forward by a member of the commission, to hugely cut the protections of panthers.

According to the law, there should be at least three healthy panther populations out of 240 individuals; this helps the government reassess conservation status of the panther. It will take longer for the state to achieve this target as at present, there is only one population of 100 to 180 cats.

According to the Commission, "The current recovery criteria are aspirational rather than practical in nature. Under this federal recovery plan, Florida will never be able to accomplish the goals necessary to recover panther populations to a point where the subspecies can be delisted".