Another friend of this blog, Carmel Severson was piqued by "Sulfide's" GRAY WOLVES AND COUGARS posting of several days back................Carmel offers his perspective on the concept of so-called"pure species" and sub species,,,,,,,,,,, and how he feels rewilding should proceed

From: Carmel Severson
Date: Thu, Sep 15, 2011 at 7:33 PM
Subject: Gray Wolves & Cougars commentary
To: Rick Meril <rick.meril@gmail.com

Rick,

 you certainly don't have to post any of this, if you want to just pick bits I have no problem with what you choose to post. These were just the points I wanted to bring a little more clarity to, not all readers may be familiar with the panthers story.

I wanted to comment on some of what was discussed in the article. What do gray wolves and cougars have in common? The reality of "pure"

All in all I agree with the premise that: regardless of how "pure" or "impure" a species is considered by humans and their need to categorize, these creatures should be important in their own right, preserved, protected, re-established for their roll in the environment. A cougar is a cougar no matter where it is found, a wolf, a bear &; so on. Whatever its name, it is the animal and its function that we need to focus on.

 

;And what about interbreeding with dogs? Well, that's how wolves get their black coats, of course. 

or is it the reverse -how some dogs got their black coats?

If a wolf wants to mate with a coyote, let it. There are thousands of hybrid plants and marine life that are still protected, so why should vertebrates be treated differently?; I'll say Just because it is a hybrid does not mean it should be treated as a "Greater or lesser" counterpart to its pureblood relative.

;The subspecies of cougar I'm referring to specifically is the Florida panther (Puma concolor coryi). This animal was listed as Critically Endangered for a long time until a huge debate over the subspecies of cougars and a total re-evaluation of them put this animal's conservation status at risk. Now was it by sheer ignorance that the government decided to introduce a "non-native" subspecies in order to help repopulate the now dwindling Florida cougars?

The Texas cats were brought in to add fresh genes to an ever decreasing gene pool, in the hope of reversing some of the health problems the panther was experiencing due to inbreeding. It has been to this date successful in doing so, we have a healthier more viable breeding population of panthers in Florida.

While all of this was going on, the government locked up 300,000+ acres of land in different nature preserves to protect the panthers, and behind the scenes captive breeding was taking place .The captive breeding really did not get off the ground, the cats that had been held for the purpose of possible re-introduction became too old and no further efforts have been maintained to keep captive cats that could be released in the future.

;As of 2011, there is an estimated 100-160 wild cougars left in the wild.........Panthers in Florida that is.

;Some have begun to push their range back northward into Missouri.  These cats though are not Florida cats turning up in MO but rather cougars dispersing from the Dakotas.

 lt;and more reported sightings in other eastern states continue to flood in. Advocates continue to cry "preserve the Florida cougar!

Sightings are just that, not all sightings turn out to be actual cougars. Yes we should continue to preserve the panther in Florida, as they are still a low population and at risk of extinction by disease, or natural disaster, either could wipe out the current population in Florida. The agencies responsible for the Florida Panther have not met the goal of two more breeding colonies comprised of approx 500 cats, a number posed as a recovering population in the restoration plan.

;And what of the mysterious "Eastern cougar" that was declared extinct a few months ago? Isn't that what a Florida/Texas cougar technically is?Yes indeed! Essentially I agree with this, the Florida panthers are possibly the last remaining descendants of the eastern cougar.

When provided evidence, especially mtDNA evidence, it shows that all wolves are genetically linked, and all cougars are genetically linked. This means that we could, in theory, bring in a wolf from the Arctic circle to inhabit New Mexico, or bring in some cougars from Texas to inhabit Florida - oh wait, we already did that!

One has to remind themselves that they cannot have it both ways. Remember, I truly believe that subspecies are unique. It is the biologists and advocates who try to say they aren't (but then will turn around and say they are only when it fits their agenda).

The panther in Florida was unique, it could be measured &; weighed as such literally. The cats skull measurements varied from their western cousins, they are lighter weight leaner versions, whose coat color was perceived as darker having adapted to a different climate & terrain. But this was not the only reason it was listed as endangered and given protection in the State of Florida, it was acknowledged that the panther is a cougar, but in Florida the population of cats had dwindled to so few, inhabiting only Five % of its former range and it was this that truly earned the panther its status.

- Carmel Severson.