Mountain Lion

Dec 2008.

That's a genuine Florida Panther subspecies.

So how many zoos hold Florida panthers? Is there any kind of captive breeding effort at this time or is it mostly rescue and education?

Most Florida zoos have at least one Florida panther. There is no captive breeding program. The USFWS abandoned the program at White Oak back in the 1990s (there was a lot of controversy regarding Florida Panther conservation back then...somewhat similar to the Dusky Seaside Sparrow). It was later decided to introduce 6 female Texas Cougars in the wild population to rejuvinate the genetics. This was a huge success, the 6 females were captured and sent to zoos (USFWS didnt want the Texas girls genes to flood the Florida panther population). Now its just a rescue and rehab program based at White Oak.

Has the recent reclassification of pumas affected the program any? I understand one of the more recent studies declares all North American cats to be same subspecies.

@okapikpr: I slipped up when putting a title on the photo, as of course it is a Florida panther. Looking beyond the subspecies, it is intriguing that this cat is also called a catamount, puma, cougar, mountain lion, and at least a couple of other names in the Americas.

Well the Florida Panther is a Mountain Lion. You are still correct! And the species' reclassification has not changed the program. The Florida population of Puma concolor is genetically and adaptively distinct from other pumas. And not matter what the species is still Endangered in the State of Florida.