Augustine's Sing Out Loud Festival and the --- Wildly Foundation, aims to raise awareness about the importance of protecting the Florida panther's habitat (USA TODAY). The event, taking place on September 19 at the Gamache-Koger Theatre in Flagler College's Ringhaver Student Center, will feature a 90-minute documentary that chronicles the advocacy efforts to safeguard the panther's environment. The documentary, narrated by various stakeholders including wildlife photographers, veterinarians, ranchers, conservationists, and indigenous people, showcases the panther's struggle to survive in its habitat within the Florida Wildlife Corridor, an 18-million-acre network of land and water running through the center of the state.
However, the corridor is under threat from encroaching developments... which have allegedly pushed the Everglades to the brink of ecological collapse. The film's diverse coalition of narrators played a crucial role in passing the Florida Wildlife Corridor Act, a legislation signed into law by Governor Ron DeSantis in 2021.
The act aimed to protect wildlife migration routes and natural habitats, despite the growing development pressure in Florida, one of the fastest-growing states in the USA (USA TODAY). The panel discussion, moderated by Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives Paul Renner, St. Augustine Commissioner Barbara Blonder, "and National Geographic Photographer George McKenzie.".. will focus on the need to safeguard the panther's habitat. The event aims to inspire action and encourage the audience to join the effort in protecting the Florida panther and its habitat.
One of the narrators in the documentary emphasizes the importance of showing the world who the panther is, stating that it could be the "spark" that ignites saving the Florida Corridor. The act committed up to $300 million to help preserve a network of routes along the Florida Wildlife Corridor and $100 million for Florida Forever, "the state's flagship program for land conservation." The "Path of the Panther" screening and panel discussion offer a unique opportunity for the public to engage with the issue and learn about the efforts to protect the Florida panther and its habitat.
St. Augustine's Sing Out Loud Festival and the Live Wildly Foundation present a screening of " Path of the Panther " on Thursday, Sept. 19 at 6:30 p.m. at the Gamache-Koger Theatre in Flagler College's Ringhaver Student Center located on 50 Sevilla St. Paul Renner, speaker of the Florida House of Representatives , St. Augustine Commissioner Barbara Blonder and National Geographic Photographer George McKenzie will host a panel discussion advocating the proper protection of the panther's habitat following the film.
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