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Baby Panther Adjusts To New Home At Lowry Park

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By Lenora Lake, Tribune correspondent

Published: November 16, 2007

Photo by Michael Spooneybarger / The Tampa Tribune

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TAMPA - Lucy, a 4 1/2-month-old Florida panther, got acquainted with her new habitat at Lowry Park Zoo this week.

Lucy, short for Calusa, has been moved to an enclosed area where she will go on public display Saturday. On Thursday afternoon, she had an hour-long trial run. This morning, she and her new home were shown to local news media and visitors in a preview at the zoo on West Sligh Avenue.

Zoo staff spent about six weeks "baby-proofing" the enclosed habitat, which previously had been home to two older panthers that died.

"She'll challenge every small hole and every lose wire," said Virginia Edmonds, assistant curator of Florida mammals, who helped renovate the site by adding new plants, mulch, leaves and platforms.

This morning, the 20-pound cub batted at plants, jumped onto stumps, chased a ball and slipped into a small concrete pool in the enclosed area.

"She's definitely bolder today," Edmonds said. "Yesterday, she was out a little and was using the plants to hide behind."

The zoo's veterinarian, David Murphy, entered her habitat in an attempt to dry her from her encounter with the water in the chilly air, but she was more interested in grabbing the towel and clinging with her claws to Murphy's leg.

"This is why you don't have a cougar as a pet," Murphy said as he grabbed her by the scruff of the neck.

Lucy was born in early July in the Big Cypress National Preserve and rescued by wildlife officers when she was abandoned by her mother. She weighed 2 1/2 pounds, was dehydrated and had a laceration on her head. She has been treated in the zoo's hospital and is being hand-raised by the zoo's veterinary staff. Her spots are fading, and her bright blue eyes are fading to green-gray.

For Saturday's opening, zoo annual pass holders will be admitted beginning at 9 a.m. and the public at 9:30 a.m. The first 500 visitors in each group will get a T-shirt. The panther exhibit is included in the zoo's regular admission charge.

Correspondent Lenora Lake can be reached at (813) 865-4851 or llake@tampatrib.com.

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