Environmentalists are concerned that new Collier development will have an impact on the Florida panther population.

The Conservancy of Southwest Florida has launched an online petition to rally community opposition to the development and eventual dredging of Bellmar Village, a neighborhood linked to the recently permitted Town of Big Cypress.

“If we take a community and put it there, the rights to humans, to fresh water, seem to supersede the rights of the entire planet to be healthy and safe,” said Nora Demers, a biology professor at Florida Gulf Coast University.

Environmentalists are concerned about the property’s development hurting Florida panther numbers. It is less than a mile from the Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge, located east of 2nd Avenue Southeast and Golden Gate Boulevard East in Golden Gate Estates. Bellmar Village is projected to have 4,000 residences on around 2,000 acres of land, as well as strip shops, businesses, and other community necessities, according to a recent article by Ryan Arbogast of ABC7.

“Take a look at our county. Look at the lovely surroundings. Everyone comes down here to take advantage of the natural beauty. We’re just paving over it,” said Bill D’Antuono, a Naples native and charter skipper.

According to the Conservancy, development and dredging might result in the loss of nearly 1,700 acres of Florida panther habitat, as well as the narrowing of an important wildlife corridor.

“The corridor must come to an end somewhere. Consider it as if you were always driving on a freeway. That’s the passage. You won’t be able to stay on the roadway. You can’t just stop at a rest stop. You’ve got to get off the highway and go somewhere,” Demers explained.

According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission, there are only approximately 200 Florida panthers in the wild, and 12 have been hit and killed by vehicles this year across the state. According to the Conservancy, Bellmar would increase car trips in the rural area by around 45,000.

“Panthers aren’t allowed to argue. So the point of dispute is emerging right now,” Demers explained.

Other creatures who share the same habitat as Florida panthers may suffer as well.

“Deer, rabbit, armadillos, otters, turtles, fish—I can’t think of anything you don’t have out there,” he continued.

Collier County commissioners had already approved the community development proposal in July.

Home construction is scheduled to commence in 2024.

The article originally appeared on ABC7.

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