This can’t be true. I thought there were still florida panthers left.
There are:
"The agency's decision to declare the eastern cougar extinct does not affect the status of the Florida panther, another endangered wildcat."
Some of them are in Alabama, as well.
There are at least two in Bay County, FL, just south of the new airport. They’ve been seen, and heard, several times.
3rd paragraph
Wednesday’s declaration paves the way for the eastern cougar to be removed from the endangered species list, where it was placed in 1973. The agency’s decision to declare the eastern cougar extinct does not affect the status of the Florida panther, another endangered wildcat.
“I thought there were still florida panthers left.”
You’re right, there are still “plenty” of panthers left in Florida.
Rembrandt
Sarasota, FL