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Endangered Florida Panther euthanized after being hit by vehicle near Naples

Posted at 2:48 AM, Jul 06, 2017
and last updated 2017-07-06 02:48:03-04

An endangered Florida panther was euthanized after being struck by a vehicle in southwest Florida.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission reports that the 5-year-old male was found injured Monday on a Naples road. Biologists will study the panther's remains.

RELATED: First wild female Florida panther north of Caloosahatchee River since 1973

 

A total of 16 Florida panthers have been found dead in 2017, with 12 road fatalities.

Florida panthers once roamed the entire southeastern United States, but now their habitat mostly is confined to southwest Florida. Only about 230 Florida panthers remain in the wild.