What is a panther?
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Headquarters under fair use
Over 68% of individuals who participated in PV’s mascot selection poll voted for the Panthers. However, many people are unaware of what a panther actually is.
In a schoolwide ballot on Feb. 25, 648 Pascack Valley students and faculty voted for the Panthers to become PV’s new mascot; however, how many of them truly know what a panther is?
Unbeknownst to many, a panther is not actually a species in itself. Instead, the pantherinae is a subfamily of large cats containing the genera of panthera, which ultimately includes the species of jaguars, leopards, cougars, and mountain lions.
The only panther population known to be native to the eastern United States is the Florida panther, which is a type of cougar found in South Florida. Therefore, there are no panthers found in New Jersey.
Check out the infographic below for additional information on panthers, as well as seven potential logo concepts included in the PV Mascot Selection Guide that was emailed out to PV students and faculty by Director of Athletics Shawn Buchanan on Feb. 23.
Panthers by Spencer Goldstein
