Path of the Panther Photography
The Path of the Panther photography project is a long-term conservation storytelling effort led by wildlife photographer Carlton Ward Jr. to document the life, movement, and survival of the endangered Florida panther—and to use those images to help protect the remaining wild lands it depends on.
The project began around 2016 with a simple but ambitious goal: photograph a Florida panther in the wild. But, how? The answer was camera traps. Wildpath built a network of advanced camera trap systems using professional cameras, lighting, and infrared trip wires that allowed animals to trigger the camera themselves. These remote “forest studios” captured intimate, never-before-seen moments without human presence, revealing how panthers move through the landscape and the habitats they depend on.
- Big Cypress
- Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge
- Audubon Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary
- CREW Marsh Trails
- LaBelle Ranch Corridor
- Babcock Ranch
- Avon Park Air Force Range
- Fisheating Creek Corridor
The photography soon expanded beyond panthers to include black bears, deer, birds, ranchers, and entire ecosystems. This broader view helped visualize the importance of the Florida Wildlife Corridor—an 18-million-acre network of connected lands essential for wildlife movement, ecosystem health, and water security.
The images were published in National Geographic, bringing global attention to Florida’s hidden wild spaces and the urgency of protecting them.
The project culminated in the book Path of the Panther and the documentary film Path of the Panther, which followed Carlton’s journey and showed how storytelling, science, and photography can influence conservation policy and public awareness.
Highlights
Path of the Panther
New Hope for Wild Florida
Path of the Panther is a story of new hope for the recovery of an iconic endangered species and its Everglades home – and a global example of how protecting wildlife corridors can sustain balance for nature and people.
Exhibits
Xposure / February 2023
Capitol Gallery / April 1 – July 31, 2023
Florida Museum of Photographic Arts (FMoPA) / December 7 2023 – March 17, 2024
FIU Frost Art Museum / January 25 – September 14, 2025
Florida Panthers Hockey / Amerant Bank Arena, Permanent Installation
Resources
