Endangered Panther Dies at Florida Zoo
Incident Date:
05/05/2025
Location:
Tampa, FL - USA
Facility Name:
ZooTampa
Facility Type:
Accredited AZA Facility (AZA)
Incident Category:
Animal Death (AD)
Species:
Big Cats
Animal:
Panther
Animal disposition:
Dead
Summary:
TAMPA, FL – ZooTampa has announced the loss of an endangered Florida panther named Walter. Walter, estimated to be 12 years old, was one of three endangered Florida panthers at the zoo. He arrived at the zoo in 2017 for emergency care after he was discovered in Highlands County with severe injuries to his neck and paw from a snare trap.
To save his life, most of Walter’s front left paw was removed. Walter was unable to return to the wild and remained at ZooTampa, serving as an “ambassador” for his species. Zoo staff said Walter’s health significantly declined a few days ago and despite around-the-clock medical intervention, he continued to decline. It unclear what exactly caused Walter’s death.
Action take by Born Free USA:
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