Saving the Florida Panther - FULL EPISODE | S2

Florida’s wild side is full of surprises, and this adventure takes you straight to the heart of it! 🌿 On Wildlife Nation: Expedition Florida, Jeff Corwin heads to Marco Island to meet one of Florida’s quirkiest locals — the burrowing owl. Once common across the island’s grasslands, these small, wide-eyed birds are now a state-threatened species struggling to survive as development takes over their habitat. Jeff teams up with Audubon Western Everglades to band, measure, and study these owls while learning how conservationists and residents are working together to provide safe nesting areas and protect them from dangerous rodenticides.

Next, we journey deep into the Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge with the Miccosukee Tribe and the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission to uncover the inspiring comeback story of the Florida panther. Once reduced to fewer than 30 animals in the wild, this iconic predator has been brought back from the brink of extinction through genetic rescue, radio telemetry tracking, and wildlife corridors that protect them from vehicle collisions. Jeff explores how scientists and tribal stewards are safeguarding this critically endangered big cat’s future.

The expedition continues at Loggerhead Marine Life Center, where rescued sea turtles like “Lola” are receiving lifesaving care after boat strikes, tumors caused by fibropapillomatosis, and other human-related threats. Jeff joins the dedicated veterinary team to see firsthand how they clean wounds, monitor bloodwork, and rehabilitate these gentle giants for release back into the ocean.

Finally, under the cover of night, Jeff joins researchers on Florida’s Atlantic coast for a rare encounter with a massive 900-pound leatherback sea turtle. Known as “Buttons,” this ancient reptile has traveled thousands of miles across the open ocean to nest on the same beach where her species has laid eggs for millions of years. From collecting genetic samples to monitoring her health, this nighttime research gives us a deeper understanding of one of the ocean’s most mysterious and endangered creatures.

Location: Marco Island, Florida | Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge | Loggerhead Marine Life Center | Florida Atlantic Coast

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