The Florida Panther, with only 120–230 adults left, faces mounting threats despite decades of conservation efforts through habitat protection and alignment with the Endangered Species Act (ESA). A 2024 federal court ruling bolstered these efforts by revoking Florida’s wetland permitting authority due to inadequate protection of endangered species, restoring stricter federal oversight. However, a 2025 proposal by the EPA, NOAA, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service seeks to narrow the definition of “harm” under the ESA, potentially excluding habitat degradation and weakening protections. This creates a conflicting regulatory landscape—offering short-term conservation gains but introducing long-term risks to panther survival and habitat preservation.