Center of Biological Diversity...updates on our Florida Panther, as they have partnered with the Florida Panther Society. The Center has been honored to carry their work forward to PROTECT AND SAVE OUR FLORIDA PANTHERS. Puma concolor coryi. The Florida panther is a subspecies of Puma concolor (also known as mountain lion, cougar, or puma) and represents the only known breeding population of puma in the eastern United States. In 1967, the Department of the Interior listed the Florida panther as an endangered subspecies. (reference: US Fish and Wildlife 2017) Today, the panther is recognized as Florida's official state animal but it is one the most endangered mammals on Earth. Did You Know? Proportionately, panthers have the largest hind legs of any cat, allowing them to leap up to 15 feet vertically and 45 feet horizontally. Panthers are an umbrella species and they once prowled and flourished in woodlands and swamps throughout the Southeast. When European settlers arrived in the 1600s, the clear-cutting, building and other human activities that destroy, degrade and fragment habitat began, and the fear and misconceptions that led to panther persecution took root. Today, they are one of the most Endangered Species known. In 2017, the ranchers of Southeast and here in Florida are pushing to delist our Florida Panther, so they may be shot on sight. Center of Biological Diversity, their advocates and other very high powered organizations will fight and take their fight to the courts of Florida to keep our Panther SAFE AND PROTECTED by the Endangered Species Act. Today the most threat to our Panthers are vehicles and trucks especially down Alligator Alley and State Road 29 where they roam along the Everglades. Referencing Big Cat Rescue what is actually being done? There are only 120 to 200 on last count, and plans to save the panthers focus on 3 areas of action. First, additional habitat must be secured and enhanced. Second, programs are under way to breed panthers in captivity for later release back in the wild. Third, scientists are exploring ways to increase the genetic variability of panthers through cross-breeding with closely related subspecies. We need team support from all peoples of Florida, and as Florida increases its population by leaps and bounds educating the public on our Panthers, and taking the education to the schools will give the newcomers, and locals the tools to allow our Florida Panthers to flourish not to become extinct... EXTINCT IS FOREVER!!!! Mahalo

                             

A New Chapter in Saving Florida Panthers
Saving Florida Panthers has long been a shared goal between the Center and the Florida Panther Society. With the Society winding down, we're honored that they've chosen us to carry on this important work to protect and conserve one of the most awe-inspiring wild cats on the continent. Learn more.

SAVING THE FLORIDA PANTHER

A reserved, stealthy predator of enormous physical grace and power, the Florida panther is one of the most majestic large felines in the wild. While jaguars roamed as far east as Louisiana, and pumas were widespread from the East to the West coasts, today the Florida panther is the only large feline remaining in the Southeast, and it's separated from western puma populations by more than 1,000 miles. Once found throughout the southeast United States, the Florida panther now occupies only a small area of South Florida, about 5 percent of its former range, and it numbers just 100 to 120 individual cats. 

By far the greatest threats to Florida panthers are habitat loss, fragmentation and degradation — all driven by Florida's burgeoning human population and the developments and highways that accommodate it. Without room to roam, male Florida panthers clash, often with fatal consequences; with its restricted size and absolute isolation, the panther population remains particularly vulnerable to fatal diseases and parasites. Roads, besides slashing through precious panther habitat, also directly kill the great cats through vehicle collisions. But Florida development and road-building can only increase as humans expand; already, numerous new towns are planned to be built inland from the state's southwest coast.

For the Florida panther to survive — much less recover — it needs federally protected critical habitat, as well as reintroductions to additional habitats in Florida and the Southeast. The Center petitioned for the protection of roughly 3 million acres of critical habitat in September 2009, but early the next year, the Obama administration denied our petition — so we and four allies sued, and when our lawsuit was struck down, we appealed. In 2011, we also petitioned to reintroduce the panther in and around the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge in southern Georgia and northern Florida. That petition was denied, but we won't give up on earning this species the room it needs to roam and recover, and we've won several victories defening its habitat, such as a 2014 settlement to significantly curtail damaging off-road vehicle use in Big Cypress National Preserve, where the panther roams

.The Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge is one of the 58 refuges established under the authority of the Endangered Species Act. The refuge area has long been known as an important Florida Pantherhabitat. Several female panthers have had litters and raised kittens on the refuge in recent years.

Breaking News .. Defenders of Wildlife.. Whales an endangered species and our Right Whale are dying faster than they are procreating. We are loosing them to fishing nets throughout the North Atlantic Seas.. Defenders of Wildlife and their legal teams are now taking their battle to the courts and have filed a lawsuit against the National Marine Fisheries, for not protecting and setting guidelines and regulations for the commercial fisheries in using these death traps.. Please lets take this fight and help them, if you cannot help with a donation, then please share this newsletter. We are all advocates for all species of animal and marine life.. we are their voice to stop such needless deaths.. Mahalo

It’s tragic. Last month, another critically endangered North Atlantic right whale was found dead – entangled in fishing gear – off the coast of Virginia. The situation is dire – and without our immediate intervention, the species will likely become functionally extinct in the next 20 years. That is why Defenders is suing the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) for failing to protect right whales from fatal entanglements in fishing lines. But we need your help to raise $150,000 by February 28th to support our legal team and our life-saving work of protecting right whales and other wildlife. Tia, fewer than 450 North Atlantic right whales remain, and this latest death comes on the heels of one of the deadliest years for right whales since the days of commercial whaling. In 2017, at least 17 of these critically endangered whales died – and a majority of their deaths were attributed to deadly entanglements in fishing gear. Entanglement in fishing gear is the primary threat to the survival of right whales. In fact, scientists estimate that 83 percent of right whales have experienced entanglement in fishing gear at least once in their lifetimes. A right whale can die within minutes, drowning as it struggles to free itself – or it can die slowly and painfully over many months from injury, infection, or starvation. It is a horrific end that no animal should have to suffer. But the harms of entanglements don’t stop there. Scientists have learned that stress from chronic and long-term entanglements reduces female whales’ reproductive rates. Sadly, 2017 was also one of the worst on record for calf births – with only five recorded. The math is clear: right whale deaths are far outpacing their birth rates and it’s putting them on an escalating trajectory toward extinction. But their fate is not yet sealed. Defenders is pulling out all the stops to ensure a future for right whales and other imperiled species. We are mounting a defense for wildlife in courtrooms across the country. Your urgent donation will provide the funds we need to defend wildlife whenever threats arise. Get us to our goal of $150,000 by Feb. 28th! Sincerely, Jamie Rappaport Clark President, Defenders of Wildlife

National Justice for Animals... February 25 through March 3, is dedicated to all animals. Fighting animal abuse, changing laws, educating the public, prosecutors and law enforcement regarding all animals is what founder Stephen Wells and his team of attorney's have dedicated their lives. It is now time to join ALDF, prosecutors, and law enforcement in raising the bar and making animal abuse a felony in all 50 states. This year our horses are facing the battle of their lives and with the continued help of Animal Legal Defense Fund, lawmakers and advocates they are taking the battle to the courtroom to save them from the most inhumane slaughter known. They continue to fight the battles for all animals including our Endangered Species, Marine Life, shutting down all roadside zoo's and puppy mills. Stand with them, as they count on our support in signing petitions, sharing their newsletters and continue to work as a team for all species of animals, mammals and marine life. Mahalo

National Justice for Animals Week Next week (Feb. 25 – March 3) is National Justice for Animals Week. Join us in raising public awareness of animal abuse and celebrating the prosecutors, law enforcement officials, lawmakers, and others who champion the cause of animal crime victims. Protecting Our Wild Horses Wild horses across the country are under attack – but we’re fighting back in the courtroom to defend wild horses from cruel roundups and slaughter. Animal Welfare Blackout The Animal Legal Defense Fund’s lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s animal welfare blackout continues. Get the latest update. Become a Partner in Protection Ensure that Animal Legal Defense Fund attorneys are able to bring animal abusers to justice across the country by becoming a Partner in Protection. Simply sign up to make a monthly tax-deductible donation of any amount. For the animals, Stephen Wells Executive Directors

Breaking News from Alice Jay - Avaaz.. Our bees are in the greatest danger of becoming extinct. Remember without our bees and other pollinators our EARTH as we know it will die!! Many other organizations are noting that we are in our own environmental holocaust. Scientists have recently reported as of 2017, that the mass extinctions of marine animals may soon be occurring at alarmingly rapid rates than previously projected due to pollution, rising water temperatures and loss of habitat. Many land species also face a similar fate for the same reasons, as well as Trophy Hunting. The biggest foreboding danger of all facing humans is the loss of the global honeybee population and other pollinators. The consequence of a dying bee population impacts man at the highest levels on our food chain, posing an enormously grave threat to human survival.(facts.global research.com). The Honeybee Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) is the bee phenomenon which is currently recognized as an urgent crisis. I am a novice Beekeeper and as an advocate for all species, I believe we all need to recognize, that we are in a severe crisis of global proportion. I need to do more, we all need TO DO MORE.. sign the petitions, write your Congressman, State Representative and most of all write, use social media and sound off to the big chemical companies who sell these poisonous pesticides. We are the voice for all species, and we are heard throughout the world. Please share, we need to be very active and YES WE can stop this extermination of our Honey Bee's.. Below are links that one can read and share.. Mahalo

Dear friends,

Right now, billions of bees are dying. Already, there are nowhere near enough honeybees in the US to pollinate the crops, and in Europe beekeepers are losing at least 10% of their bees each year.

We're in the middle of an environmental holocaust that threatens all of us, because without pollination by bees, our whole food chain is under threat! 

Scientists are sounding the alarm about pesticides that are toxic to bees, and say we’re using way, way more pesticides on our crops than we need. And as with oil companies and climate change, big chemical companies that sell pesticides are fighting back with dubious corporate-funded science that questions the evidence, giving politicians an excuse to delay. 

But this year we could finally see a crackdown on these toxins in Europe, Canada, and the United States! -- and Avaaz has mapped a plan to make it happen:

1. Turn the pesticide scientists into whistleblowers to testify to officials and Ministers;
2. Run urgent studies to show how crops will flourish without these poisons;
3. Launch massive public campaigns with political champions to win the bans.

Scientific studies and global public campaigns are expensive. Avaaz may be the only crowdsourced funding model in the world able to raise enough, fast enough to fund global-scale, grassroots-supported studies into how we farm without these poisons, to decisively challenge the compromised science of big pharma. The need is urgent, and if we can't do this, it's not clear who can. 

Europe poised for total ban on bee-harming pesticides (The Guardian) 
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/mar/23/europe-poised-for-total-ban-on-bee-harming-pesticides 

Strongest evidence yet that neonicotinoids are killing bees (New Scientist) 
https://www.newscientist.com/article/2139197-strongest-evidence-yet-that-neonicotinoids-are-killing-bees/ 

Would we starve without bees? (BBC)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/guides/zg4dwmn 

Attack of the bee killers: Documents show Bayer and Syngenta teamed up with farmers to get around bee-friendly regulation (Politico)
https://www.politico.eu/article/europes-lost-colonies-bees-neonicotinoids/ 

Controversial pesticides can decimate honey bees, large study finds (Science)
http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2017/06/controversial-pesticides-can-decimate-honey-bees-large-study-finds 

Farms could slash pesticide use without losses (The Guardian)
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/apr/06/farms-could-slash-pesticide-use-without-losses-research-reveals

Pesticide Lobby Spends Millions To Defend Chemicals Tied To Bee Deaths (Huffington Post)
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/29/pesticide-lobby-bees_n_2980870.html