A rare and endangered species, the Florida Panther evokes a sense of mystery and beauty that is not unlike its natural Everglades environment. Widely recognized as the iconic state animal of Florida, the number of panthers left in the wild are thought to have dwindled to only a couple hundred thanks to increasing environmental threats.

Young Friends of the Everglades virtual learning components are aimed at nurturing the youngest environmentalists among us by linking education to advocacy. The latest addition of the the Florida panther to our online learning space aims to familiarize users with information about this truly extraordinary species and inspire each and every Young Friend to be an active part of the panther recovery efforts.

Young Friends of the Everglades can now take part in several new learning elements centered around the Florida Panther:

  • Test your knowledge and learn something new by participating in the Panther Quest – an online journey to learn about Florida’s endangered Florida panther.
  • Try your artistic hand at drawing a photo of a Florida Panther, taken by celebrated National Geographic photographer, Carlton Ward. Post it to social media with the hashtag #MSDLegacy and tag Friends of the Everglades so we can share your creativity with other Young Friends.
  • Step behind the veil of rare Everglades moments by watching never-before-seen trail footage of Florida panthers, including kittens, in their native habitat.
  • Send a letter to Governor DeSantis and lawmakers urging them to protect the endangered Florida panther by stopping the construction of new toll roads that threaten to cut across vital panther territory.

The health of Everglades animals depends on the health of the Everglades. Young Friends is inspiring kids to protect both. Get involved today to see how you can encourage the young people in your life to help protect the only Everglades in the world.