Florida Panther Festival a Roaring Good Time

What better time to host the Florida Panther Festival than on a Collier County Free Day! On Saturday, November 7, the Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens saw young and old gather to celebrate Florida’s most iconic wildlife ambassador.

There were outdoor exhibits by area conservation partners, and guests could speak one-on-one with the wildlife experts who were on hand. Regular zoo activities were also on deck for this family-friendly event. Of course, the main attraction was Athena, a Florida panther who was a few weeks old when rescued in 2017. Her mother left her behind in Big Cypress National Preserve, and the Naples Zoo gave her a permanent home.

There were also presentations on the invasive Burmese pythons, black bears, and the Zoo’s Alligator Bay Feeding. Presented by Live Wildly Foundation, the Florida Panther Festival was a fantastic way to “meet your wild neighbors.”