The history of the Florida panther, both revered and reviled

A Florida panther is shown in one of the most notable prehistoric Native American artworks. This six-inch-high Key Marco cat figure features a cat's head and the body of a kneeling human.

Archaeologist Frank Cushing, who led an 1896 expedition that discovered it in peaty mud on Marco Island, south of Naples, referred to it as the "mountain lion god." He described it as "equal in all ways to any [artefact] from Egypt or Assyria."

It was carved by the Calusa or Muspa people between 500 and 1,500 years ago, using natural hardwood that was delicately detailed and well polished. I was very astounded when I saw it at the Marco Island Historical Museum shortly before the COVID outbreak began in March 2020. It was handcrafted with exceptional expertise and reverence—and leaves a lasting impact.

This work of art reminds us that the narrative of the Florida panther and its interaction with people is intricate and fascinating. Here is a portion of that story:

Perplexity and dread

Mountain lions were prevalent in most of North America before Europeans arrived. The creatures were hunted and captured extensively throughout time, and they were finally nearly eradicated from the eastern portion of the United States. A small colony of Florida panthers, a kind of mountain lion, remained in the marshes and woodlands of the state's southwest.

European settlers feared and loathed these cats and were sometimes perplexed as to what they were; early descriptions referred to them as "tygers," "lions," and "leopards.". They were later categorised as distinct New World cats and given several names, such as pumas, cougars, catamounts, panthers, mountain lions, and others. Naturalists suggested that there were several subspecies, which maintained sway until the late 1800s. Mountain lions and pumas are now regarded as the same species across their range.

Cat hunts were frequently sponsored by government bodies. According to a literature study done by Jesse Schneider, a historical ecologist and PhD student at the University of Miami, the state of Florida gave a prize of $5 per panther pelt in 1887, the equivalent of more than $150 in today's money.

Even in the feline's last eastern bastion, the hunting gradually took its toll. The creatures appeared to be extinct by the 1930s, but a few sightings and killings were soon recorded in Big Cypress Swamp. Finally, in 1958, the state approved legislation making hunting the creatures illegal, and they were protected under the federal Endangered Species Act in 1973.

Deep respect

Native American communities throughout the Southeast and beyond have long sensed significantly differently, perceiving cats to be spiritually significant and powerful creatures.

"This is an extremely important animal," Schneider explains. "There's a deep reverence for the panther."In "Legends of the Seminoles," native writer Betty Mae Jumper explains how the panther was the first species to traverse the Earth, fulfilling the Creator's instructions. The cats were granted unique powers and secrets that they could share with others, as well as a degree of reverence equivalent to that conferred on eagles by other tribes.

According to the historian Ryan Wheeler, "when the Earth was first made, the animals and plants were advised to stay awake for seven days; among them was the panther."Only the owl, panther, and a few other creatures were able to stay awake—and these were granted the capacity to see at night and [hunt]."

The panther is the namesake of a tribal tribe in Seminole and Miccosukee culture, the panther clan, to which medicine men have historically belonged.

The panther might also play a negative role. In one story, a panther murders a pregnant lady, and her unborn twins grow into thunder and lightning. Some folklore warns of "underwater panthers," which might cause misfortune and death. However, the animal is always treated with care, and archaeological evidence suggests that it was not often killed and eaten.

There are, however, exceptions. In December 1983, James Billie, the long-time Seminole leader, shot and ate a panther on the Big Cypress Reservation in southern Florida. "It tasted like deer," he stated in an interview I had with him at the time.His acts were justified as culturally appropriate. Despite the federal government's efforts, the lawsuit was finally abandoned.

Having come full circle?

Nobody knew if any Florida panthers were still alive after hunting was made illegal or if there were any cougars east of the Mississippi. Several jurisdictions, including Florida, engaged famed trapper Roy McBride to discover any.

"There was no hard evidence that any were left in the eastern U.S., so they had me come look, and I'd look in all the places I thought I had a chance of finding one," he remembers. "I didn't find any until I got to Florida." McBride first noticed a female at Fisheating Creek, north of LaBelle, in 1973.

The inbred population was saved by an extraordinary and successful gambit that involved the introduction of eight Texas cougars—also caught and brought by McBride—that were released to mate with Florida panthers in the 1990s and then removed to protect the genetic integrity of the Florida panther.

Today, around 200 panthers survive, a remarkable narrative of ecological recovery—but one that is far from certain. Panthers must spread north to survive since there isn't enough area for them in South Florida. To do this, more green places must be conserved, and more efforts must be made to minimise automobile collisions and habitat destruction.

Florida panthers are now again widely adored and cherished. They are the official animal of Florida and the inspiration for an NHL hockey club (which is presently in the playoffs).

The Marco cat, being part panther and part human, clearly suggests a shamanic metamorphosis, a component of Indigenous religion in which people—particularly shamans—transform into animals and vice versa as part of a healing rite or quest. While that is beyond most people's experience, it may inspire us to perceive the world through the eyes of a panther.

According to Florida rancher Cary Lightsey, iconic creatures such as panthers may give people a reason to care about safeguarding green places, such as ranchland, which are vital for sustaining the state's ecological health and natural character.

"The Florida panther will help us save Florida," he promises.