Paw patrol Helping Florida’s panthers thrive

I’m travelling with photographer Carlton Ward Jr through southwestern Florida. We’re following the path of the elusive Florida panther. Our chances to spot one are slim: scientists estimate that only 200 of them remain in the wild in the US.

Lean and fawn-coloured, these carnivores once roamed across the southeastern US. At one point, the panther population dwindled to an estimated 20 individuals, bottlenecked in southwestern Florida. Ward, an accomplished conservation photographer and National Geographic explorer, has captured some of the most thrilling – and up close – images of the big cats, in hopes of drawing attention to their battle against extinction.

The panthers require large swathes of contiguous habitat to hunt, mate and raise their offspring. Climate change and development are