A New Educational Display about America's Large Cat
in Cooperation with the National Wildlife Federation

Inside Panther Glade at Naples' Caribbean Gardens you will step up to large glass panels to get a great view of America's majestic and often misunderstood large cat. Known today as Florida panthers, these shy cats once roamed throughout the Southeast. Today, less than 100 of these cats remain in Southern Florida leaving an imbalance of nature throughout the East. At this educational display, you'll learn the truth behind the rumors and myths.

You can enjoy testing yourself and your friends and family on the flip-up "True or False" graphics. Many excellent photos of wild panthers and the efforts involved in their conservation tell the story of the panther. You'll also learn how they faced the same problems as Asia's tigers over the past century.

Herb Boothby Photo

And children can create stories in the sand using panther footprints cast from tracks left by the actual panthers living just outside Naples.

Best of all, you have the opportunity to help save this endangered mammal by supporting the Friends of the Florida Panther Refuge or the National Wildlife Federation with information available at the exhibit.

Through the efforts of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission over the past two decades, we now know considerably more about these reclusive creatures and what it will take to help them recover and why that's important to people.

Our government created a protected area specifically for the panthers in 1989. Known as Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge, it is a haven for these rare cats. Click to learn more about joining the support group for the Refuge and see how you can help panthers.

And right now, you can also learn more about panther conservation and their recovery from the National Wildlife Federation. Consider joining NWF and finding out more about protecting our natural resources right here at home.

Caribbean Gardens: The ZOO in Naples
1590 Goodlette Frank Road
Naples , FL 34102
(239) 262-5409

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