The Florida panther, a rare big cat that once roamed across the southeastern United States, is under increasing threats as development expands and federal conservation resources decrease. Experts warn that the rare creature could be pushed closer to extinction if key protections and habitat oversight continue to weaken. Conservation groups are raising concerns about a massive new development planned near the panther's habitat, the Rural Lands West Project, which would create a mixed residential and commercial complex across more than 10,000 acres near the Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge. The development could destroy nearly 5,000 acre of panther habitat, potentially fragmenting one of the last areas the animals depend on to survive. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the agency responsible for protecting endangered species, has lost a significant portion of its workforce in the past year.