FLORIDA — The "Protect the Panther" license plate is getting a new look, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) announced Wednesday.
What You Need To Know
- The "Protect the Panther" license plate is getting a new look, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) announced
- The new design will feature a photograph taken by Carlton Ward in 2018 of the female panther and her kitten
- FWC said the plate is still undergoing final preparation
- The plate will be available for purchase through the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles or local tax collector offices later this year
The new design will feature a photograph taken by Carlton Ward in 2018 of the female panther and her kitten. FWC said the plate is still undergoing final preparation.
The adult female panther was pictured on the plate because she is the first female documented north of the Caloosahatchee River since 1973. For many years, the Caloosahatchee River appeared to be a major obstacle to the expansion of the female panther population, FWC said.
She is also the first female documented to have had kittens north of the river in more than 40 years.
Florida panthers are native to the state and most are found south of Lake Okeechobee. Panthers are listed as an endangered species and it is illegal to harm or harass them in any way. There are approximately 120-230 adult panthers in the population, according to FWC.
Fees from the Protect the Panther license plate go directly into the Florida Panther Research and Management Trust Fund, which supports rescue and conservation activities for the state.
The plate will be available for purchase through the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles or local tax collector offices later this year.