Join Big Cat Rescue to Support FL Panthers in Ft Lauderdale

Last week (Aug 2015) the FWC posted their revised​ draft FL panther​ position statement. As some of you may recall, in June, Big Cat Rescue joined various national conservation groups in speaking out against the ​original ​draft position statement. Many of you responded to our action alert, contacting the FWC and asking them to not give up on the FL panther. Carole and I attended the meeting in Sarasota to speak up for the panthers (and the bears). We also participated in a media conference with the Sierra Club, The Conservancy of SW Florida, and the HSUS. You may read our response to the FWC’s original draft position statement at http://bigcatrescue.org/why-is-the-fwc-giving-up-on-the-florida-panther/.

Our actions resulted in the FWC taking note of the public’s comments and sending the statement back to their staff for revision​. As the Tampa Bay Times put it in their editorial on August 17th, the revised draft position statement is a “win for open government over secrecy” but the policy still has “some weasel language”. You may read the full editorial online at http://www.tampabay.com/opinion/editorials/editorial-positive-step-on-panther-policy/2241676

We are currently working on our comments in response to the​ revised​ statement and will be sending out another action alert to our Florida supporters.

In the meantime, ​PLEASE PLAN ON JOINING me, Howard, and Carole at the upcoming FWC meeting in Ft. Lauderdale on September 2nd​, 2015 at the Hilton Fort Lauderdale Marina. The FWC will be voting on the revised statement as well as finalizing​​ rules for the impending bear hunt.

​More information about the meeting including the address, ​start time, agenda, and a ​link to ​the revised draft FL panther position statement​​ may be found online at http://myfwc.com/about/commission/commission-meetings/2015/september/02/agenda/

I’ve also attached the revised draft FWC Florida Panther position statement.

Hope to see some of you in Ft. Lauderdale!

Jennifer Leon, MPA
Director of Outreach

813-393-6066
jennifer.leon@bigcatrescue.org
12802 Easy Street, Tampa, FL 33625
bigcatrescue.org