Directed by Eric Bendick, EP Leonardo DiCaprio, Path Of The Pather arrives in Florida theaters ahead of its National Geographic and Disney+ debut

EXCLUSIVE: Florida honors an elusive big cat known as the Florida Panther as its state animal, but the fate of the magnificent creature remains in doubt.

For decades its habitat has been fragmented by development, and only about 200 mature Florida panthers remain. But the law, passed in 2021, and the efforts of a coalition of tribal peoples, conservationists, farmers and others offer hope for the cat’s survival.

The National Geographic Movie Path of the Panther, directed by Eric Bendick and executive produced by Leonardo DiCaprio, documents a remarkable effort to track the panther’s movements in the wild and the broader movement to protect its homeland by establishing a wildlife corridor of public and private land. Wildpath and Grizzly Creek Films announced today the documentary will open February 24th in more than 40 theaters across Florida, including Miami, Orlando, Jacksonville and Tampa. Path of the Panther will premiere on the National Geographic Channel and stream on Disney+ in the spring.

“This is a film that Floridans absolutely need to see on the big screen,” Bendick said in a statement. “From never-before-seen footage of elusive panthers in the wild, to real-life heroes risking everything to save the species and lands they need to survive, viewers will experience action that literally jumps off the screen, and moments that fills us with hope and determination and sheer awe at the beauty of wild Florida.”

The film, which has won numerous awards at festivals across the country, follows the work of National Geographic explorer and photographer Carlton Ward Jr. and allied groups fighting to save the Florida panther from extinction closely. “This odyssey of hope and heartbreak is the culmination of more than five years of field research, 500,000 still images and more than 800 hours of ultra-high-definition camera footage,” the statement said. “Against all odds, wild panthers are captured in their native ecosystem in a breathtaking way unlike anything filmed before.”

The Florida panther was nearly extinct by the 1950s. “It has been on the federal endangered species list since 1967 and on the state endangered species list since 1973,” according to the Florida department. “The future of this great animal depends entirely on the management decisions made on its behalf today.”

Impact producer Tori Linder said: “Path of the Panther is a testament to how Florida’s state animal is at the forefront of unprecedented conservation goals and achievements in the greater United States and beyond. The production was filmed in the state of Florida and the field team had to manage up to 30 photo and video camera traps over five years. This collaborative effort brought together a team of biologists, landowners and tribal people to bring the story to life. The film could not have been made without the support of the entire crew, cast, donors and the local communities that the Panther’s story touches.”

Grizzly Creek Films’ Tom Winston directed the documentary with Wildpath’s Carlton Ward Jr. and Tori Linder produced. Oscar-winning actor and activist Leonardo DiCaprio will executive produce alongside Howard G. Buffet, Ted Haddock and Sigrid Tiedtke along with Appian Way Productions’ Jennifer Davisson and Phillip Watson.

Watch the exclusive trailer above.