An endangered Florida panther struck by a car has died after surgery to repair a broken leg.
State wildlife officials captured the 4-year-old male panther Thursday, a day after it was struck by a car in Collier County.
The big cat was taken to an animal hospital in Naples, where it died after surgery to repair its broken left front leg. The remains will be sent to a state lab in Gainesville for a necropsy.
It's the 13th panther death on Florida's roads so far this year.
State officials are set to discuss management plans for the rare cats later this month. Only about 180 panthers remain, but officials say rising number of vehicle strikes and other encounters with humans indicates that the current management plan isn't meeting its goals.
Copyright AP - Associated Press
