The heaviest Florida panther ever recorded was captured by biologists with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission as conservation efforts to protect the endangered animal continue.

FWC biologists recently captured and tagged the heaviest Florida panther ever recorded, a male weighing 166 pounds.

FLORIDA, USA — Biologists with the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) have captured what they say is the heaviest Florida panther on record. Weighing in at 166 pounds, the panther was found on Wednesday, Jan. 29 in Babcock Ranch, FWC told 10 Tampa Bay.

Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission officers just caught the largest panther ever weighed in the sunshine state. The big cat was spotted perched in a tree at the Tarpon Blue Ag Babcock Ranch in Punta Gorda last week. After officers were able to safely remove the Panther from the tree, they say it weighed 165 pounds.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (WFLA) — Florida Fish and Wildlife biologists have collared the heaviest Florida panther recorded, weighing in at 166 pounds. This male panther will be a part of a long-term research program that monitors panther movement, health and population dynamics to help with conservation efforts.