Endangered Species : All about clouded leopards

Characteristics of the Clouded Leopard

The clouded leopard is a medium-sized cat named for the cloud-like spots on its coat. These provide camouflage in the light of its forest habitat. (In China the cat is known as the 'Mint Leopard' because its spots can also look like mint leaves). The cats usually stand 10-16 inches (25-40cm) tall and are 4 to 6 feet (1.2-1.8m) long, almost half of which is the tail. Males tend to be larger and weigh up to 50 pounds (23 kg), while females rank in at about 35 pounds (16 kg). Clouded leopards can live to about 17 years old in captivity.

They are able to climb upside down underneath tree branches, hang from branches with their hind feet, and even descend head first, like a squirrel. Several adaptations allow clouded leopards to achieve these amazing arboreal skills. Their legs are short and stout, providing leverage and a low center of gravity. Furthermore, a clouded leopard's extremely long tail provides an excellent balancing aid. For grip their large paws are armed with sharp claws and specialized padding that conforms to the shape of the branch⁴. The hind feet possess flexible ankle joints that allow the foot to rotate backwards as well.

They are Carnivores, and their activity patterns are unknown. They patrol territories that range from 20-50KM, and they may use logging roads for hunting and traveling.

Neofelis Nebulous and Neofelis Diardi

Until 2006, there was thought to be a single clouded leopard species. However, recent genetic research shows that there are two distinct species. The cats on mainland Asia and Taiwan kept the traditional species name (Neofelis nebulosa) while the cats from Borneo and Sumatra took the name the Sunda clouded leopard (Neofelis diardi). The two species diverged from each other 1.5 million years ago due to geographic isolation as land bridges disappeared between the islands, possibly due to rising sea levels or volcanic eruptions.

Where do they live, and why are the extinct?

Clouded leopards primarily live in lowland tropical rainforests, but can also be found in dry woodlands and secondary forests. They have been spotted at elevations up to 9000 feet in the Himalayan mountains. Historically, their range covered most of Southeast Asia from Nepal and southern China through Thailand, Indonesia, and Borneo. However, this range has shrunk due to habitat destruction and human poaching.

The forest habitat is experiencing rampant degradation due to industrial lodging and the development of agricultural areas including palm oil plantations in Malaysia and Indonesia. Clouded leopards are increasingly becoming the targets of commercial poachers seeking their skins, bones, and meat. In one Myanmar market monitored by the conservation group Wildlife Alliance, the number of clouded leopard pelts has increased by 200% in just two years. Many of these products end up being purchased by consumers seeking traditional medicines and exotic fashions in the booming economy of China. Live clouded leopards are also sought by wildlife traders, destined to become pets or join the exotic zoos of wealthy collectors.

Why are they important, and why should we care?

Clouded leopards help maintain the ecosystem by controlling populations of prey species, and hosts internal and external parasites. By controlling the prey it prevents excessive stress on plant populations. Without clouded leopards, plants will be affected, and the ecosystem will continue to evaporate. Humans would also be affected by the extinction of clouded leopards because they would have to maintain the excessive populations of prey species.

What is being done to help this species?

There are many conservation efforts to save the clouded leopards. The clouded leopard project has 39 different projects being funded in hopes to save the clouded leopards, the following link will provide links to the 39 projects http://www.cloudedleopard.org/about_survival

The overall goals of the Clouded Leopard SSP program are to address captive management issues, stabilize population demographics, improve the population’s genetics, and develop conservation efforts in clouded leopard range countries.

To protect clouded leopards and other big cats in Bhutan, WWF and local wildlife authorities are working together to establish anti-poaching units and strengthen anti-poaching law enforcement.
In addition to poaching, WWF and its partners are addressing human-wildlife conflict by setting up a compensation fund for local farmers whose livestock is often killed by tigers and leopards.

Ways you can help!

The best way to help protect clouded leopards is by donating funds that we can use to support research and conservation efforts in the wild. You can also adopt a clouded leopard to support conservation work to protect the species. Use the following link to adopt a clouded leopard: http://www.cloudedleopard.org/help_adopt.aspx