Flamingo Garden’s beloved panther Buddy passed away Sunday, suddenly and unexpectedly, during a medical examination.
“Our hearts are broken, and we are grieving. Our beloved panther Buddy passed away Sunday, suddenly and unexpectedly, during a medical examination,” announced Flamingo Gardens.
The cause of death is still under investigation. The results of Buddy’s necropsy have been sent to a state lab, and we are holding any speculations as to the cause of death until we have the final results.
Flamingo Gardens staff, volunteers, and members mourn this tremendous loss, particularly those who have cared for the animal over the past six years.
Buddy was a Florida panther, which is also known as a cougar or mountain lion. Panthers are a subspecies of puma that is found only in southern Florida. Panthers like Buddy are usually loners. They are solitary and elusive cast, adapted to the swamps and forests of our region. The Florida panther is critically endangered, with only a small population remaining in the wild.
Buddy was a victim of the illegal pet trade. Six years ago, on New Year’s Eve, Buddy escaped his captors and was found wandering around a neighborhood. The Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission was contacted and brought him to Flamingo Garden for care. Buddy was emaciated but had digestive issues due to the poor diet he was being fed while being kept illegally as a pet.
There are only 120-130 Florida panthers left in the wild. Buddy was an excellent representation of his species and a wonderful ambassador for panthers and cougars all over the United States. He will be sorely missed.
