Breeding programs and habitat preserves have been established as an effort to protect the florida panther from extinction. studies indicate that a minimum of 50 adult panthers are needed in order to have a self-sustaining population, which is one that does not need to be supplemented with breeding programs. if a wild population of 40 panthers were left alone, which would most likely happen to the panther population? the panthers will maintain the population size that is present now. the panthers will migrate to different areas of the country. the panthers will adapt to new conditions and their descendants will survive. the panthers will become extinct due to the lack of genetic diversity.