Last year 17 Florida panthers ( Felis concolor coryi ) were killed when they were struck by vehicles, an all-time high and a terrible blow to one of North America’s most endangered mammals. Only 100 or so panthers remain in Florida, and the species shows signs of heavy inbreeding due to its limited population.
Panthers are already protected by law, and drivers face heavy fines for speeding in known panther zones, but that hasn’t done much to stop these unnecessary deaths.