You Won’t Want To Miss The Florida Panther Festival

The annual Florida Panther Festival returns to the Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens on Saturday, November 3, 2018. This event celebrates local wildlife including the endangered Florida panther. Collier County residents receive free admission to the zoo on festival day. All you need to do is bring your driver’s license with a Collier County address or other proof of residency.

Things To Do At the Florida Panther Festival

In addition to all the regular activities available at the Naples Zoo, attendees will have the chance to see a live Florida panther. There will also be other outdoor exhibits presented by area conservation partners, activities for kids, and other presentations given by wildlife experts.

The Story of Athena

The Naples Zoo is home to Athena, a panther kitten left behind by its mother in Big Cypress National Preserve in the summer of 2017. Following an unsuccessful attempt at reuniting Athena with her mother and family, the decision was made to remove her from the wild. Athena became a resident of the Naples Zoo and made her public debut in December 2017.

While the Florida Panther remains on the endangered species list, the population in the state of Florida is beginning to grow. Athena is actually the third panther kitten to have received care at the Naples Zoo panther facility since it opened in 2015. The facility is a joint effort with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Center.

The Naples Zoo also offers visitor education programs that cover the challenges of living in close proximity to endangered predators like the Florida panther. Check out pathercrossing.org to learn how you can reduce the risks to panthers on the roads by pledging to obey speed limits in panther crossing zones. You can also purchase a Florida panther license plate to help with the funding of Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s panther monitoring, research, and management efforts.

Become A Sponsor of the 2018 Florida Panther Festival

If you’re interested in becoming a sponsor of the 2018 Florida Panther festival, there is still time left to do so. The festival relies on the support of many contributors to make this an annual event.

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Rick Hendrick Chevrolet Naples

The Naples Zoo is a favorite leisure spot for many of the staff and their families at Rick Hendrick Chevrolet Naples. We’re proud to be a part of a community that works diligently to protect our natural habitat and endangered species like the Florida panther. Our dealership is located less than 15 minutes from the zoo and is ready to take care of all your automotive sales and service needs.

Whether it’s a brand new Chevy car, truck, or SUV from our extensive inventory or routine maintenance for your existing vehicle, rest assured you will receive top-quality service along with outstanding values when you do business with us.