Florida panther

Hyper Club LLC plans to convert a 530-acre motorsports track and surrounding land into a resort development smack dab in the middle of Florida panther habitat. The proposed project threatens adjacent protected lands, including the Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge and Picayune Strand State Forest. Environmental advocates are worried about the loss of habitat, noting that recent changes to the Endangered Species Act definition of 'harm' further complicate conservation efforts.

Florida Democrats are urging Secretary of Interior Doug Burgum and Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick to withdraw a Trump administration rule that removes habitat modification from the definition of 'harm' under the Endangered Species Act. The change, set to take effect on Sept. 14, is criticized for weakening protections for species like the Florida manatee and panther, which the ESA has historically helped conserve.

An endangered Florida panther cub named Peppercorn is recovering at Naples Zoo after being found abandoned, malnourished, and sick. Rescued at 8 weeks old in March, the cub will be transferred to another zoo to serve as an ambassador for Florida panther conservation efforts once fully recovered.