"The Florida Panther is on the endangered species list and it is estimated that only 50 actually remain in the wild, mostly in the Big Cypress area in Florida. Unfortunately, the few that do remain in their natural habitat are victims of both inbreeding due to their few numbers and auto fatalities as they cross the roads that criss-cross through their shrinking habitat. Research is being done in the hope of strengthening their gene pool by breeding it with the Texas Cougar which is a controversial subject but possibly the only solution availablefor the continuation of these extraordinary cats."