Annual Performance Report; Florida Panther Biomedical Investigation

Roelke, Melody

Fourteen individual Florida panthers (Felis concol or llryi) were successfully immobilized for the purposes of radio-collaring and collection of biomedical information and/or for removal from the wild for rehabilitation. One hundred and five field days resulted in radio-collaring four new panthers. The physical condition, body weight, reproductive status, and b~ood and serum values all indicate that the panthers utilizing the private lands adjacent to the Bear Island Unit, Big Cypress National Preserve were in excellent health and in better condition than those previously studied in the Fakahatchee Strand State Preserve (FSSP). This north/south "health cline" continues to be associated with the type and abundance of prey taken. Seven panthers have died since December 1987 and human activity is responsible for the majority of all documented panther deaths (road killed 52%, illepallv killen 15%). Seventy-five percent of all Florida panthers were. exposed to feline panleukopenia virus, however, the prevalence was significantly higher in the FSSP/Big Cypress Swamp ecosystem than in the Everglades National Park (p less than 0.05). Panthers were also exposed to feline calicivirus (56%) but there was no significant difference in prevalence by location (p greater than 0.05). In addition to the above two viruses, bobcats have antibodies to feline rhinotracheitis virus, which has not been reported in wild Florida felids before. In vitro fertilization experiments produced 141 oocytes (eggs) from seven female cougars. Following insemination, ten cleaved embryos resulted, including one sired by a captive Florida panther, which were transferred to two recipient females. Preliminary data from the panther/cougar population genetics study reveal that the species has abundant genetic diversity (minimum of 11 polymorphic loci), but F. c. coryi has fewer polymorphic loci than other wild subspecies examined. The resu ts of the genetic study coupled with an increase in abnormal male reproductive traits (greater than 90% abnormal spermatozoa and 33% cryptorchidism) raise serious concern for the reproductive potential and genetic health of this subspecies.