ZooTampa Announces Death of Lucy, 18-Year-Old Florida Panther

ZooTampa at Lowry Park shared news on Sunday about Lucy's passing. The 18-year-old Florida panther was put down after fighting cancer.

Someone found Lucy as a cub back in 2007. She had head trauma. Her mother had abandoned the den, leaving the tiny panther behind. Workers at the zoo gave her constant care, day and night. Ashley Todd worked on the hospital team that helped Lucy recover. The cub healed. She grew up at the zoo and lived there her whole life.

Lucy became an ambassador for Florida panthers. She represented her species for almost two decades. Her face showed up on a U.S. postage stamp. Buildings across the country displayed her image, from a New York skyscraper to the Empire State Building itself.

"Lucy leaves a legacy that touched millions of hearts," said Chris Massaro, senior vice president and chief zoological officer at ZooTampa, according to a press release. "While we are saddened by her passing, we are immensely proud to have witnessed her extraordinary life and the joy she brought to people around the world."

Workers at the zoo knew Lucy well. She had her own quirks and preferences. Watermelons? She loved them. She also liked when her caregivers scratched her and showed affection.

Years ago, doctors diagnosed Lucy with cancer. Medical teams at the zoo tried to manage her condition. But her health got worse. Officials decided to euthanize her rather than let her suffer.

Molly Lippincott works at ZooTampa. She talked about Lucy's influence in a video. "People really didn't know the story of the panther. And now they do," Lippincott stated in a video, per WTSP.com.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission lists Florida panthers as endangered. Two wild cat species live in Florida. Bobcats are one. Panthers are the other. Most panthers stay south of Lake Okeechobee.

Only 120 to 230 adults still roam wild areas, based on counts from wildlife officials. Human actions threaten their survival more than anything else. Cars hit and kill many panthers each year. Vehicle collisions rank as a top cause of death.

ZooTampa runs programs to help protect panthers that remain in the wild. Workers partner with the fStop Foundation, which started to spread awareness about conservation and wildlife corridors. The group manages 160 cameras positioned throughout Florida, with most sitting in South Florida near the Everglades and Big Cypress.