Why did scientists choose the Texas cougar to breed with Florida panther?

Scientists did not choose the Texas cougar to breed with the Florida panther. They chose a specific subspecies of cougar known as the "Texas" cougar, which was actually located in south Florida, not Texas.

Here's why this was done:

* Genetic Diversity: The Florida panther population had become extremely small and inbred, resulting in low genetic diversity. This led to numerous health problems and reduced their chances of survival.

* Introducing New Genes: The "Texas" cougars, despite being called "Texas" were genetically distinct from the Florida panthers. Introducing their genes into the Florida panther population helped increase genetic diversity and potentially improve their health.

* Avoiding Inbreeding: The "Texas" cougars were chosen specifically because they were genetically distinct enough to avoid further inbreeding within the Florida panther population.

It's crucial to remember that the cougars used in the breeding program were not from Texas, despite the name. This was a deliberate choice based on genetic research and the need to introduce new genes into the Florida panther population to help them recover.