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Photographer captures rare photos of Florida panthers and kittens

Once in danger of going extinct, the panther population has made a comeback due to conservation efforts.
/ Source: TODAY
By Alyssa Newcomb

The stealthy and majestic panther is a rare sight in the wild, but new photos are giving people a closer look at the big cats in their natural habitats.

Carlton Ward Jr., a conservationist and photographer, captured stunning photos of Florida panthers, including their adorable kittens, that appear in the upcoming April issue of National Geographic magazine.

A female and three kittens explore Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, a reserve of old-growth cypress forest surrounded by encroaching suburbs on three sides. Many of these camera trap images took years to capture because of the cats' rarity, their unpredictable movements, and the difficulty involved in getting the right lighting. Florida's weather can be a challenge too: One camera was lost during a hurricane but was later recovered.
A female and three kittens explore Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, a reserve of old-growth cypress forest surrounded by encroaching suburbs on three sides. Many of these camera trap images took years to capture because of the cats' rarity, their unpredictable movements, and the difficulty involved in getting the right lighting. Florida's weather can be a challenge too: One camera was lost during a hurricane but was later recovered.Carlton Ward, Jr. / National Geographic

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Weighing between 65 to 165 pounds, the predatory cats are a rare sight for the average Floridian. While beautiful, panthers can also be dangerous to encounter in the wild. Fully grown panthers can leap more than 10 yards when they're ready to pounce on prey.

The animals, which are a subspecies of mountain lions, were hunted during the 1970s in the southeastern United States. At one point, the panther population dwindled to just 30 of the big cats in Florida, putting the animal in danger of extinction.

Wildlife veterinarian Lara Cusack handles more kittens belonging to a panther named FP224. These young cats were measured and given immunity boosters while their mother was hunting away from the den. When panthers have space and protected habitats, their populations can grow. Only about one in three Florida panther kittens survives to adulthood.
Wildlife veterinarian Lara Cusack handles more kittens belonging to a panther named FP224. These young cats were measured and given immunity boosters while their mother was hunting away from the den. When panthers have space and protected habitats, their populations can grow. Only about one in three Florida panther kittens survives to adulthood.Carlton Ward, Jr. / National Geographic

Due to a massive conservation effort in the 1990s, the panther population is now growing in Florida. “It’s one of the most dramatic conservation success stories in U.S. history,” Ward told National Geographic. As many as 200 of the animals now roam an area south of the Caloosahatchee River, which stretches east from Fort Myers, Florida, according to the magazine.

The animals depend on swamps, forests and fields, which National Geographic points out are at risk of development as suburbs expand and more people continue to move to the Sunshine State. They're also threatened by feline leukomyelopathy, a neurological disorder that has stumped scientists, that can causes stumbling and in severe cases, paralysis, starvation and death.

The stunning photos are published in the April 2021 issue of National Geographic.
The stunning photos are published in the April 2021 issue of National Geographic.Courtesy National Geographic

The good news? Some of the female panthers are breeding. Conservationists are monitoring the health of young kittens and giving them immunity boosters while their mothers go hunting away from their dens.

For more rare photos, pick up the April 2021 issue of National Geographic.

Alyssa Newcomb

Alyssa Newcomb is a freelance contributor to TODAY.com where she covers breaking news and pop culture. She also contributes business and technology coverage to NBCNews.com and Fortune.com. She is based in New York City.