Rescued Florida Panther Cub Gets a New Home

A Florida panther cub rescued by Florida wildlife officials when he was only a week old has moved out of Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo and into Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife Park.

Yuma was found in January, “close to death with a dangerously low body temperature,” the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission posted on its Facebook page. He required life-saving measures to revive him.

The little cub spent the first part of his life at Animal Specialty Hospital in Naples before moving onto Lowry Park. Now at the wildlife park, the 7-month-old cub “is continuing his fame as an animal ambassador to Florida,” the commission reports. The story of his rescue gained national attention.

Yuma has gained weight and strength since arriving at the park and can now be seen in the newly refurbished Panther Exhibit.

As it turns out, August is Florida Panther Month at the park. Yuma’s story will be on display in an exhibit in the park’s visitor center.

To keep up with Yuma’s progress, just follow @MyFWClife on Twitter or search #PantherYuma for updates.

Find out about visiting Yuma in his new home by visiting the wildlife park’s website.

Florida residents can help with rescues such as Yuma’s by purchasing the state’s Protect the Panther license plate at BuyaPlate.com. Fees from tag sales are among FWC’s top sources for funding the management and research of endangered Florida panthers, the agency says.

Photo Credit: Yuma/Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission