Panther kittens in the wild.

The Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission has launched FloridaPanthernet.org, reports Mark Lotz, an FWC panther biologist.

The new website includes an overview of Florida’s official mammal and addresses key issues. A summary page states this: “Is it a mountain lion? A cougar? A puma? Does it roar? You will learn about its physical appearance and its behavior in the wild. Is it black? Does it have spots? How big is it? What does it eat? How does it hunt? Does it live alone or in family groups? How much land does it need to survive? How long does it live and how does it rear its young? You will also discover how biologists and other scientists have discovered so much about this elusive animal.”

The site also lists panther births and deaths, gives details on the $15,200 reward for the shooting death of a panther, and explains how Floridians can help save the animal.

Once roaming throughout Florida and much of the United States, the panther was thought to be extinct in the early 1970s. Today, through conservation efforts, approximately 100 survive in the wild. A male panther can weigh up to 160 pounds but Lutz says that panthers have not attacked people.

A reward for information that leads to an arrest and/or a conviction in the shooting death of a Florida panther is now at $15,200.

The panther was found April 21 in Hendry County on private property bordering the Big Cypress National Preserve, according to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS). Henry County borders western Palm Beach and Broward counties.

State and federal biologists report that approximately 100 adult Florida panthers are alive. As of July 8, according Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) biologist Mark Lotz, 10 panthers have been killed in 2009. Seven were killed by vehicles and two were killed by other panthers.

Florida panthers are protected by the federal Endangered Species Act, which makes it illegal to “harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture or collect them.” Panthers are also protected under Florida law.

USFWS special agents and FWC investigators are looking into the case. The federal penalty is up to one year in prison and a fine of $100,000 per individual. In addition, the state penalty is up to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine.

The reward is provided by a diverse group of organizations: USFWS, FWC, the Humane Society, Defenders of Wildlife, Florida Wildlife Federation, Bergeron Family of Companies, Big Cypress Sportsmen’s Alliance, Everglades Coordinating Council and Florida Airboat Association.

“The FWC encourages anyone with information that leads to an arrest in this case to come forward, so we can bring the person or persons responsible for this crime to justice,” FWC Capt. Jeff Ardelean said. “It is our agency’s mission to protect and preserve the rare and magnificent panther, the state’s official animal, for future generations.”

People with information about the killing of this panther are urged to call the USFWS’s Office of Law Enforcement at 239-561-8144. To remain anonymous, call the FWC’s Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-3922.