One-Week-Old Panther Kitten Rescued in Florida by Biologists (Video)

A nearly frozen, one-week-old panther kitten was rescued from a wildlife refuge in southwest Florida.

The kitten was rescued by biologists in mid-January, according to a press release from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. They note that when the male kitten was found, he was suffering from hypothermia and nonresponsive.

"We want to give any panther kitten the best opportunity to survive in the wild," said FWC veterinarian Dr. Mark Cunningha, via the release. "But clearly this kitten was in poor condition and almost certainly would have died without intervention."

Upon rescue, the kitten was taken to the Animal Specialty Hospital in Florida, and his condition rapidly improved. He was then transported to Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo for further rehabilitation efforts.

Unfortunately, researchers believe that since this cub did not learn how to properly survive away from his mother, he cannot be released into the wild again. The Lowry Park Zoo also does not plan to put him on display. Yet he will eventually move to the Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park, in which he can be observed by visitors in his natural habitat.

"This kitten exemplifies how joint efforts of the FWC, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and our partners are helping recover imperiled species in Florida," said Kevin Godsea, manager of the Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge for the USFWS. "We are certainly pulling for him and hope he leads a long, healthy life."

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Want to see more of the kitten? Check out this video, courtesy of YouTube.