U.S Fish and Wildlife.
The U.S Fish and Wildlife is directly in charge or monitoring the current population of the Florida panther, only 30-80 individuals, one of the most endangered large mammals in the world. This species is also Florida's state animal and has become a charismatic symbol within the region. The region is one of the least developed areas in the eastern U.S and consists mostly of large private ranges and public conservation lands, according to the Multi-species Recovery Plan for South Florida (USFW). The only reproducing panther population is located in the Everglades region of South Florida, which consists mostly of private lands. The U.S Fish and Wildlife has to work with many private groups and ranchers to ensure safety, management, and protection of this endangered species and people involved.
With a discontinue of the captive breeding program, the U.S Fish and Wildlife may be out of a job. This species has been ESA listed since 1967 but on recovery plan since 1999. In this time, recovery and management has created many jobs through the U.S Fish and Wildlife. The greatest concerns with decrease in captive breeding would be decrease in population numbers and decreased need for monitoring in the wild. If the population continues to thrive because of natural reproduction and breeding then the U.S Fish and Wildlife will be in support of ending captive breeding. If there are clear declines after the end of captive breeding, USFW will likely protest. .
If the management decision to end the captive breeding program is made, the USFW will be directly affected. They will likely be against ending captive breeding because that will cause decline in jobs and need for regulation or management. Also, the chances of species success and recovery seem slim without the captive breeding program since the panther has received such demographic contraction and isolation from other subspecies (Roelke 1993).
