Although numbers have been greatly reduced by hunting and trapping the puma, in general, is not endangered. However one sub-species, the Florida Panther (P.c.coryi), only to be found in and around the state of Florida, has become endangered and as few as 50 or so of these cats now survive in the wild.

Once found throughout the south-eastern United States, the range of the Florida Panther reduced drastically during the early part of this century and today the existing population is unlikely to survive for much more than 30 years without intervention. Although protected areas have been established, problems relating to the close proximity of human habitation are hampering conservation efforts - road-kills along the major highways, hostility of private land owners to the panthers and eating of prey contaminated with pollutants and pesticides all serve to aggravate an already critical situation.

The major problem confronting the Florida panther is one common to all small and fragmented populations of wild cat, that of lack of breeding success, due mainly to abnormalities associated with in-breeding.

The State government has not been idle in its efforts to help save the cat - the erection of fences and under-passes along the major state highways has been carried out partly in a effort to reduce the incidences of road fatalities.

To help in strengthening future generations a captive breeding program has been implemented with a number of young panthers being removed from the wild - these will be used to supplement the wild population in future years.