The Wellington Garden Club and the Oleander Garden Club invite the community to join them at the Wellington Community Center (12150 W. Forest Hill Blvd.) on Thursday, Oct. 24 from 2 to 3:30 p.m. for a presentation on saving the critically endangered Florida panther by Dr. Carol Rizkalla, Florida Panther Management Program coordinator for the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission.
Rizkalla will elaborate on the history of the Florida panther, as well as the loss of habitat and other factors that have caused its population to plummet. She will also discuss the importance of conservation of this unique species, the efforts underway that are crucial to ensure its survival, and review ways to help with these efforts.
Once found throughout Florida and other southern states, the Florida panther has been federally listed as endangered since 1967. Only 120 to 230 Florida panthers survive today, according to recent estimates. Clearly, these magnificent big cats are facing an uncertain future and need help to overcome the decline of their population.
Rizkalla first came to Florida in 1999 for an internship at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. She left to pursue a doctorate in wildlife ecology at Purdue University then returned to Disney for a few years. She has been moving further south ever since. Her post-doctoral research investigated sand skink population estimation at Archbold Biological Station, an independent, nonprofit organization dedicated to ecological research, conservation and education located in Venus, Florida. She joined the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission in West Palm Beach in 2012 and served in a variety of roles in species and land management. In 2022, she became the Florida Panther Management Program coordinator and is currently based in Naples.
The event will include refreshments and a 50/50 raffle. Tickets are $25 and are available at www.wellingtongardenclub.org. Tickets at the door are $30. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Florida Panther Management Program. The balance will help fund the youth programs, scholarships and community outreach initiatives of the Wellington Garden Club and the Oleander Garden Club of the Palm Beaches.
