For years, a Florida family used their 24,300 acres of land for hunting. In 1989, their decision to part with the ranchland helped save one of America's rarest big cats

Today, Florida Panther National Wildlife is one of Florida’s (situated in the USA) largest refuges for the endangered Florida panther. Located in the heart of the Big Cypress Basin, this reserve was launched in 1989 to provide the best living conditions for the Florida panther and also protect the natural diversity, flora and fauna. However, before the land became a safe haven for the panther, it belonged to the eminent Collier family and was used primarily for private hunting leases and cattle grazing, according to the website of Florida Panther Wildlife Refuge.

In 1989, the US Fish & Wildlife Service bought about 24,300 acres from the Collier family for $10 million dollars to establish the Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge, under the authority of the Endangered Species Act, to preserve the endangered big cat and its habitat. Through the Arizona-Florida Land Exchange Act of 1988, additional Collier family land was added, increasing the refuge's size to 26,400 acres in 1996.

According to the information available on the Collier Enterprises website, over the years, Collier Enterprises and its founders have given and transferred about 260,000 acres of property, which is 25 times larger than the City of Naples. This has led to the establishment of various preserves for safeguarding the regional wildlife and also providing locals entertainment, such as the Everglades National Park, Big Cypress National Preserve, Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge, etc.

A Long History Of Giving

Barron Gift Collier was a business baron who made a fortune in streetcar advertising. He arrived in Southwest Florida in 1911 and eventually gained vast areas of land – about 1.25 million acres that stretched from the Gulf of Mexico to the Everglades. He became the largest private landowner in Florida. According to information shared on the website of the University of Florida, aside from being known as the biggest landowner, he also introduced sweeping changes in Florida, bringing it to modernity. By establishing the first telephone service, railway, newspaper and bus company, he ushered the region into the 20th century. The Tamiami Trail, which serves as the link between Florida's southwest and southeast coasts, is one of his most important contributions to the state's transportation network. Collier's father, Barron Gift Collier Jr., managed the businesses alongside his brothers while serving in the military during World War II.

Miles C. Collier and Barron G. Collier II, Barron G. Collier's grandchildren, established Collier Enterprises in 1976, carrying on his impeccable legacy. In the decades since its founding as a real estate development company, Naples-based Collier Enterprises has expanded dramatically and become even more diverse. These days, Collier Enterprises oversees a wide range of enterprises, including agribusiness and investments in residential and commercial real estate.

All About The Florida Panther

Also known as the puma or the mountain lion, the Florida Panther is considered Florida’s official state animal according to the Defenders Of Wildlife site. These great wild cats once populated the woodlands and swamps throughout Southeast America. However, even since European settlers began to arrive in the 1600s, their deforestation activities and building settlements have endangered the panther habitat. Today, these beautiful cats are among the most endangered wildlife species in the country.

Panthers need to travel through public and private lands to expand their range northward. Lack of land due to various human settlements is one cause of endangerment. According to an Associated Press news report, the space that is free to travel in has decreased to just 2 million acres.

The loss of thick, dense vegetation which enables the panther to rest, hunt and raise their young has reduced, thereby impacting their ability to survive. Fatal accidents on the road are another culprit behind their decrease in numbers. Every year, dozens of panthers are killed on highways while looking for food, mates, and territory. In 2016, a record 34 people lost their lives while crossing roadways. With 26 panthers killed by cars and a train, 2024 set the second-highest record.