Plot

A once-in-a-lifetime sighting triggers a deep dive into the uncharted world of the Florida Panther. It's a race against time - to reveal the unseen natural history of an icon surviving in an ancient ecosystem.

Drawn in by the haunting specter of the Florida panther, National Geographic Explorer and photographer Carlton Ward Jr. and a coalition of biologists, ranchers, conservationists and Indigenous peoples find themselves on the front lines of an accelerating battle between forces of renewal and destruction that have pushed the Everglades to the brink of ecological collapse. This odyssey of hope and heartbreak is the culmination of more than five years of field research, 500,000 still images, and over 800 hours of ultra-high definition camera trap footage. Against all odds, wild panthers have been stunningly captured in their native ecosystem, as they've never been filmed before. The film is the cornerstone of the "Path of the Panther" project, supported by the National Geographic Society and many other partners that inspired the passage of the Florida Wildlife Corridor Act - the first legislation of its kind and a blueprint for addressing habitat fragmentation and species extinction across the globe. The project continues to grow today, and the world stands at a crossroads with the Florida panther guiding the way.

Drawn in by the haunting specter of the Florida panther, Nat Geo photographer Carlton Ward and a coalition of biologists, ranchers, conservationists, and Indigenous Peoples find themselves on the front lines of an accelerating battle between forces of renewal and destruction that have pushed the Everglades to the brink of ecological collapse.

In a struggle resonating across the globe, the panther's habitat has become an island. Its lush territory transformed into subdivisions. A paradise - vanishing into thin air.

Perched on the edge of extinction, the panther is an emblem of our once connected world. A vision of what could be again. Or else, a harbinger of what could befall our planet, if the 'Path of the Panther' becomes a dead end.

This odyssey of hope and heartbreak is the culmination of more than five years of field research, half-a-million still images, and over 800 hours of ultra high definition camera trap footage. Against all odds, wild panthers have been stunningly captured in their native ecosystem, as they've never been filmed before.

These wide-ranging apex predators, one of the most elusive and endangered wild cats in the world, are also the inspiration for a visionary idea: a wildlife corridor. It's the beginning of a wild 'path' that could one day stretch into every corner of the American continent.

What began as a moonshot photo and film mission is evolving into a 'Path of the Panther' movement. This groundbreaking collaboration with National Geographic Society and other partners inspired the passage of the Florida Wildlife Corridor Act - the first legislation of its kind and a blueprint for addressing habitat fragmentation and species extinction across the globe.

Today, the movement continues to grow. The world stands at a crossroads - and the panther is showing the way.

WINNER - AUDIENCE AWARD 'BEST FEATURE' - 2022 FLORIDA FILM FESTIVAL

WINNER - BEST ECOSYSTEM - JACKSON WILD MEDIA AWARDS

WINNER - IMPACT - WILDSCREEN PANDA AWARDS

WINNER - PRODUCTION TEAM - WILDSCREEN PANDA AWARDS

WINNER - AUDIENCE AWARD - ACTIVE CINEMA - MILL VALLEY FILM FESTIVAL

WINNER - AUDIENCE AWARD 'BEST FEATURE DOCUMENTARY' - NAPLES INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

WINNER - BEST CONSERVATION FILM - NEW YORK WILD