Florida

Uno — Florida Panther Blinded by Shotgun — Dies in Naples Zoo After Surgery

Zoo officials say Uno had surgery on his left eye last week but reacted badly to a common pain medication

A one-eyed Florida panther named Uno has died at a Florida zoo.

The Naples Daily News reports the 6-year-old cat died Sunday at the Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens.

Zoo officials say Uno had surgery on his left eye last week but reacted badly to a common pain medication. The University of Florida will conduct a necropsy.

Uno was rescued and brought to the Naples Zoo in 2014 after being shot in the face and left for dead.

The zoo still has one Florida panther, Athena, who arrived last year and shared an exhibit with Uno.

Florida panthers once roamed the entire Southeast, but now their habitat mostly is confined to a small region of Florida along the Gulf of Mexico. Up to 230 Florida panthers remain in the wild.

“Uno was an ambassador for his species. He was a beloved panther and dear friend to our staff and volunteers, members and community,” Jack Mulvena, president and CEO of Naples Zoo, said in a statement.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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