@pathofthepanther

August 19 - 26 is #WorldPhotographyWeek! We are celebrating by sharing some of our most-loved camera trap photographs across the Florida Wildlife Corridor. Many different species live within and depend on the Corridor; we are thankful camera trap photography has allowed us to share some of them with you. Comment below, which photo is your favorite?  ​ ​Photos by @carltonward ​ ​​The @PathofthePanther project is supported by the National Geographic Society, working to inspire the protection of the Florida Wildlife Corridor — the statewide network of public preserves and private farms, ranches and forests that our wildlife needs to survive. @insideNatGeo #keepflwild #floridawildlifecorridor #protectwildplaces  #cameratrap #wildlife #nature #cameratrapping #photography #nature #wildlifephotography #florida #everglades #pathofthepanther

Listen in as Betty Osceola, Miccosukee Environmentalist and airboat captain, talks about the Everglades ecosystem. Betty is one of the characters featured in the new National Geographic Society's film, "Saving the Florida Wildlife Corridor." To hear more from Betty and others located across the Florida Wildlife Corridor, tap the link in our bio to stream the film for free through WEDU PBS. Film crew: @danny_schmidt, @ricksmithmedia @naturebreak @carltonward @torilinder @leyoho @morth_photo @ktbryden @sarahjfilms @dustinslyvia @sydneyguthrie @juliancisneros @originpoint.io #keepflwild #floridawildlifecorridor #protectwildplaces #florida #conservation #everglades

Florida is one of the most biodiverse states in the United States. Today, for the International Day for Biological Diversity, we're celebrating how the Florida Wildlife Corridor provides benefits to many different species, including humans, and is a place for our futures to coexist. ​ ​Photos by @carltonward ​ ​The @PathofthePanther project is supported by the National Geographic Society, working to inspire the protection of the Florida Wildlife Corridor — the statewide network of public preserves and private farms, ranches and forests that our wildlife needs to survive. @insideNatGeo #BiodiversityDay #ForNature #keepflwild #floridawildlifecorridor #protectwildplaces #florida #wildlifecorridors #conservation #blackbear #gator #ghostorchid #everglades #wildlife #wildflorida #native

This camera trap photo of an endangered female Florida panther was taken at Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge.​ There are approximately 120 to 230 adult panthers in the wild. They originally ranged in most of the southeastern United States but due to heavy hunting, panther populations greatly declined. Today, the Florida panther's current range is less than five percent of their original home range and the breeding population is limited to the bottom tip of Florida. ​ ​Florida panthers were one of the first species listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act of 1973. Conserving the Florida Wildlife Corridor is key to safeguarding habitat for this critical species. ​Photos by @carltonward ​ ​The @PathofthePanther project is supported by the National Geographic Society, working to inspire the protection of the Florida Wildlife Corridor — the statewide network of public preserves and private farms, ranches and forests that our wildlife needs to survive. @insideNatGeo #EndangeredSpeciesDay #keepflwild #floridapanther #floridawildlifecorridor #wildflorida #pathofthepanther #keepitwild #fornature #endangered #floridapanthers #cameratraps #wildlifephotography #everglades

Gopher tortoises, longleaf pine habitat, and pitcher plant associated bogs thrive on this 3,610-acre property within the Wolfe Creek Forest Florida Forever project area. The property, which was approved for acquisition at the March 29, 2022 meeting of the Governor and Cabinet, is a part of the Florida Wildlife Corridor and adjacent to Blackwater River State Forest. It also provides an east-west corridor connection from the state forest to Whiting Field Naval Air Station. ​ ​Thank you to the leadership of the Trust for Public Land, the landowner, and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection who came together to make this opportunity possible. This acquisition received additional funding from the US Forest Service Forest Legacy Program and the Knobloch Family Foundation. ​ ​@trustforpublicland, @flforestservice, @PathofthePanther, @fl_wildcorridor, @FL.DEP, Photos by @leyoho, Map by @angeline.maps, @archboldstation #KeepFLWild #ConnectTheCorridor #FloridaWildlifeCorridor #WildlifeCorridors #ProtectWildPlaces #LandConservation #WildFlorida

Swipe right to see a mother deer and her fawn on one of our camera traps at the Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge. Does give birth to one to three fawns after about seven months. Fawns follow their mothers while foraging; deer mostly feed on leaves, shoots, flowers, fruits, shrubs, and forbs. Their young will remain with them until they are 6-18 months old. ​ ​​​​​The @PathofthePanther project is supported by the National Geographic Society, working to inspire the protection of the Florida Wildlife Corridor — the statewide network of public preserves and private farms, ranches and forests that our wildlife needs to survive. @insideNatGeo #keepflwild #floridawildlifecorridor #protectwildplaces #florida #wildlifecorridors #deer #cameratrap #wildlife #wildflorida

Hear from Benny Blanco, Florida fishing guide, as he discusses the Everglades and the fish that depend on that ecosystem to survive. Benny is one of the characters featured in the new National Geographic Society's film, "Saving the Florida Wildlife Corridor." To hear more from him and others located across the Florida Wildlife Corridor, tap the link in our bio to stream the film for free through WEDU PBS. Film crew: @danny_schmidt, @ricksmithmedia @naturebreak @carltonward @torilinder @leyoho @morth_photo @ktbryden @sarahjfilms @dustinslyvia @sydneyguthrie @juliancisneros @originpoint.io #keepflwild #floridawildlifecorridor #protectwildplaces #florida #conservation #everglades

This Florida black bear, M13, was photographed by @carltonward when biologists placed a GPS-tracking collar on him back in 2006. The information gathered from his movements helped inform decisions about wildlife corridors and helped inspire Florida Wildlife Corridor Expeditions. As wide ranging wildlife, black bears and panthers need connected habitat to survive.  ​ ​​​The @PathofthePanther project is supported by the National Geographic Society, working to inspire the protection of the Florida Wildlife Corridor — the statewide network of public preserves and private farms, ranches and forests that our wildlife needs to survive. @insideNatGeo #keepflwild #floridawildlifecorridor #protectwildplaces #florida #wildlifecorridors #conservation #blackbear #wildlife #wildflorida #native

Two new conservation easements in the Lake Wales Ridge Ecosystem Florida Forever project area will help to conserve the character, biodiversity, and biological function of the ancient scrub landscape of the Lake Wales Ridge. The purchase of the easements, which total 354-acres, was approved at the March 29, 2022 meeting of the Governor and Cabinet. These Florida Wildlife Corridor properties are contiguous to Highlands Hammock State Park and are part of the Florida Ecological Greenways Network. ​Thank you to the leadership of the landowners and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, who came together to make this opportunity possible. ​ ​@PathofthePanther, @fl_wildcorridor, @fl.dep, Photos by @georgemckenziejr,  Map by @angeline.maps, @archboldstation #KeepFLWild #ConnectTheCorridor #FloridaWildlifeCorridor #WildlifeCorridors #ProtectWildPlaces #LandConservation #WildFlorida

A bobcat makes its way down a trail with a downed tree in the Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge. Bobcats are found across Florida in deep forests, swamps, and hammock lands. They use thick areas of saw palmetto and dense shrub thickets for dens and resting sites. ​ ​Photo by @carltonward ​​ ​ ​The @PathofthePanther project is supported by the National Geographic Society, working to inspire the protection of the Florida Wildlife Corridor — the statewide network of public preserves and private farms, ranches and forests that our wildlife needs to survive. @insideNatGeo #keepflwild #floridawildlifecorridor #protectwildplaces #florida #wildlifecorridors #conservation #bobcat #cameratrap #wildlife #wildflorida #native

The addition of a 501-acre conservation easement on the Charlie Creek Cattle Company's ranch in Hardee County will bring the total percentage of protected land on the property to 67%. Recently approved at the March 29, 2022 meeting of the Governor and Cabinet, this Rural and Family Lands Protection Program conservation easement includes bottomland hardwood, wetlands, and wildlife travel corridors for species like the burrowing owl, swallow-tailed kite, and gopher tortoise. ​ The Florida Wildlife Corridor conservation easement was made possible ​with the leadership of the landowners, Florida Conservation Group, the National Wildlife Refuge Association, and the Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services. This easement received additional funding from a grant from the United States Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service. ​ ​@refugeassociation, @usdagov, @PathofthePanther, @fl_wildcorridor, Photos by @ktbryden, Map by @angeline.maps, @archboldstation #KeepFLWild #ConnectTheCorridor #FloridaWildlifeCorridor #WildlifeCorridors #ProtectWildPlaces #LandConservation #WildFlorida

A few weeks ago, we introduced the world to 'Babs,' the first female panther to return to the Northern Everglades in 43 years. We took a risk following her story. There was no guarantee any of us would see her again. But she returned. And there's a moment (our only daylight footage of her) as she approaches down a long green corridor and, at the very last second, glances directly at the camera. It's as if she says, "I see you all out there." All the faces lit up by her image soon in cinemas, schools, living rooms, airplanes. And all those who will learn her story and the importance of that wild green corridor behind her. A huge thanks to our first audiences for recognizing @pathofthepanther with the Audience Award for Best Florida Feature, to the incredible support from @floridafilmfest and, most of all, to the team who brought this film to life over the last five years and who are celebrating its release into the wild. Produced by @pathofthepanther @grizzlycreekfilms DIRECTED BY @bendicci PRODUCED BY @carltonward @thomaswinston_gcf @torilinder @bendicci EDITED BY @andrewhbrown @bendicci @jeffreedfilm ORIGINAL MUSIC BY @kevinmatley CONSULTING PRODUCERS @avelagrenier Shasta Winston @danny_schmidt CINEMATOGRAPHY @carltonward @danny_schmidt @3bearsmedia @jeffreedfilm @bendicci @ricksmith_media @thomaswinston_gcf @ktbryden ADDITIONAL CINEMATOGRAPHY & SUPPORT Malia Byrtus @saraofthewild @nlosin @alexofthewild @leyoho @georgemckenziejr ASSOCIATE PRODUCER @ashleysiana SOUND EDITOR & MIX @imagesinsound COLORIST @scottsterling FEATURING @carltonward @bettylosceola Elton Langford Dr. Lara Cusack Dr. Jen Korn @be_the_kreature Dave Onarato