Two weeks ago, Flamingo Gardens suffered a heartbreaking loss when our beloved panther, Buddy, went into cardiac arrest during a medical examination. The procedure was prompted by a sudden and dramatic decline in his health, and despite our best efforts, we were unable to resuscitate him.
A necropsy conducted by Dr. Hirschfeld of Hirschfeld Veterinary Consulting, Inc., and confirmed by the Bronson Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, revealed that Buddy had been suffering from severe congenital defects and multiple organ diseases—conditions that were ultimately shutting down his body. Most notably, he had microcardia—an abnormally small heart, comparable in size to that of a 12-pound domestic cat rather than a 120-pound panther. His heart’s thickened ventricles impaired its ability to function properly, making resuscitation impossible. In addition, he showed signs of advanced lung disease, liver and kidney failure, and fibrosis in multiple major organ systems.
These congenital defects were almost certainly the result of inbreeding—a tragic consequence of captive breeding within the illegal wildlife trade. Whether taken directly from the wild or irresponsibly bred in captivity, trafficked animals face a lifetime of hardship. Buddy’s origins remain uncertain, but we know that he was found as a tame six-month-old cub wandering the streets of Parkland after escaping from an unpermitted residence where he had been illegally purchased. His genetic abnormalities strongly suggest that he was a product of reckless captive breeding, highlighting the devastating consequences of wildlife exploitation.
Despite his underlying health conditions, Buddy was given six years of comfort and care thanks to the dedication of his caretakers at Flamingo Gardens. Panthers are masters at concealing illness, and had he remained in captivity without proper care, he would have endured a slow and painful decline. While his passing was inevitable given his condition, his loss is deeply felt by all who knew and loved him.
Buddy’s story is a powerful reminder of why we must continue to fight against wildlife trafficking and advocate for the protection of native species and their habitats. Though his life was tragically shaped by human greed, his final years were filled with love. In his memory, we reaffirm our commitment to protecting and advocating for wildlife and so other animals do not suffer the same fate.
