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Find out how you can help injured panthers return to the wild
5/28/09
A fund was established by The Wildlife Foundation of Florida (WFF) to
aid in the recovery of injured or orphaned Florida panthers as well as
other panther conservation needs. The Florida Panther Fund is an
important resource that will give the Florida Fish and Wildlife
Conservation Commission (FWC) flexibility to deal with rare, unplanned
and non-budgeted events. The mission of the Wildlife Foundation of
Florida, Inc., is to provide assistance, funding, and promotional
support for the FWC, and in so doing, contribute to the health and
well-being of Florida's fish and wildlife resources and their habitats.
You can visit their website at www.wildlifefoundationofflorida.com.
Anyone can donate to this fund. Checks should be made payable to
Wildlife Foundation of Florida and mailed to Post Office Box 11010,
Tallahassee, FL 32302. Checks should be earmarked "Florida Panther
Fund." The WFF is a not-for-profit organization [IRS 501(c)(3)], and is
a State of Florida Tax Exempt organization.
Florida panther research is funded through the Florida Panther Research
and Management Trust Fund. This fund receives its monies from your
purchase of Florida panther specialty license plates. Eighty-five
percent of the proceeds from the extra $25.00 collected annually go
into this Trust Fund. However, to obtain the money, the FWC must submit
a budget request each year to the Florida Legislature for approval.
Caring for injured or orphaned panthers is not something that can be
planned or budgeted for on an annual basis and that's why this fund
created, by WFF, is so beneficial. The money goes directly to help
panthers and can be used when needed.
The costs associated with panther care varies from as little as $400
per month to care for 3 young kittens recently orphaned after the death
of their mother, to as much as $3000 per month to repair the broken leg
of Florida Panther 65. You can rest assured knowing that your donation
to this fund will help save the Florida panther.