Florida Wildlife Officials Release Rehabilitated Panther [Video]

Biologists with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) released a female panther, Monday. The female panther was injured after being hit by a motor vehicle in Collier County last May.

The panther was found with injuries to legs, ribs and lungs. It was about nine months at the time of the accident and was taken to the Animal Specialty Hospital of Florida, where surgeons used a steel plate to fix her fracture.

"We are pleased that we have been able to successfully rescue, rehabilitate and release this panther back into the wild," said FWC Commissioner Ron Bergeron in a news release. "We believe this panther has a good chance of contributing to progress we are making in the recovery of this population."

The panther was released on a private property in southeast Hendry County.

This is the third time that the FWC biologists tried to release the feline. Two earlier attempts last week were futile as rescuers couldn't capture the panther in its 5-acre pen at the White Oak Conservation Center in Yulee, AP reported.

 "We are grateful to our partners that helped make the rescue and rehabilitation of this panther possible," said Darrell Land, FWC panther team leader. "Our thanks go to White Oak, Animal Specialty Hospital of Florida, the Collier County Sheriff's Office, the Golden Gate Animal Clinic, University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service."

Very few Florida panthers (Puma concolor coryi) live in the wild now. According to the National Wildlife Federation, Florida panthers are usually found in swamplands such as Everglades National Park and Big Cypress National Preserve. These cats currently face several threats such as habitat loss, disease, motor vehicles and low genetic diversity.