Photo courtesy of wildpath & Carlton Ward Jr.
ChoZen Air joins forces with Carlton Ward Jr. of wildpath to raise awareness and funds to protect the Florida Wildlife Corridor. Our seaplane expeditions showcase the impact suburban sprawl is having on our local ecosystems and the need to increase conservation efforts. Together we’re committed to conserving 1,000,000 acres of the Florida Wildlife Corridor, with specific emphasis on protecting the headwaters to the Everglades directly west of ChoZen Retreat.
THE FLORIDA PANTHER | THE LAST BIG CAT SURVIVING IN THE EASTERN UNITED STATES - The Florida panther is an umbrella species with the largest terrestrial home range in the state, protecting dozens of other species in its domain. Reaching near extinction in the 1950’s, the Florida panther was among the first to be added to the U.S. Endangered Species list in 1973. The population has rebounded from about 30 adults to nearly 200 today but the species faces a multitude of new challenges.
THE PROBLEM | URBAN SPRAWL IS PROJECTED TO CONSUME 5 MILLION ACRES OF HABITAT BY 2070 - Florida’s population grows by 1,000 people per day. That equates to one million people every three years. Catering to this rapid growth, new developments are built where wildlife habitat once existed. This results in islands of habitat and wildlife populations separated by roads and suburbs. Motor vehicle collisions are the leading cause of death for Florida panthers. Nearly 30 individuals are killed every year.
IT’S UP TO US | BY PROTECTING THE LAND THEY NEED TO SURVIVE, WE CAN PROTECT THE PANTHER - In June of 2021, the Florida Wildlife Corridor Act was signed into law with unanimous bipartisan support. The legislation formally defined the Florida Wildlife Corridor and since inspired more than $800 million in public investment to help protect the state’s vast network of public and private lands which support both wildlife and people. Investing in rural land conservation will keep the Corridor connected, steer new development closer to existing urban cores, and secure a future for the Florida panther.
ABOUT WILDPATH: A STORYTELLING AND CONSERVATION ORGANIZATION, WILDPATH HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN PROTECTING INVALUABLE WILD FLORIDA HABITAT FOR THE FLORIDA PANTHER AND ALL THE SPECIES THEY UMBRELLA, THROUGH IMPACTFUL STORYTELLING SUCH AS THE FILM, PATH OF THE PANTHER, WHICH WAS RELEASED EARLIER THIS YEAR IN THEATERS AROUND THE COUNTRY AND ON DISNEY +. FOLLOW: @WILDPATH @CARLTONWARD
ABOUT CHOZEN ECO-RETREAT: NATURE IS MEDICINE. FOOD IS MEDICINE. COMMUNITY IS MEDICINE. Our mission is to inspire action to protect mother nature and all of its inhabitants. Through immersive & educational experiences, adventures & excursions we are transforming the way we retreat. We co-create, coexist and come together to celebrate and restore ecological balance while preserving wildlife and our natural environment.
Follow us @livechozen on Instagram. Interested to join us for the full Wildlife Weekend experience? Book your family-friendly, all-inclusive overnight stays HERE.