Geography

In the heart of evergreen rainforests and secondary logged forests prowls the Clouded Leopard. Not much is known about this predator except that it inhabits southern Asia in areas of southern China, the east Himalayas, and northeast India.

How to Help

The most effective way to support Clouded Leopards is to adopt one. The money you donate goes towards zoo conservation programs, equipment, and medical care. You can also help by simply informing people about them to raise awareness.

Conservation

Recently, people have been becoming more aware of Clouded Leopards due to organizations that are dedicated to protecting it. One in particular is the Clouded Leopard Project, which was created by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. This project works in 3 main areas: supporting field research and any conservation for Clouded Leopards and their habitats, development and implementation of educational initiatives to increase global awareness of Clouded Leopards both in and out of range, and conducting fundraising efforts to support the Clouded Leopard Project Activities. So far, they have been successful in radio collaring 4 leopards and are monitoring their activity trying to figure out how to save them.

Biology

The Clouded Leopard, or Neofelis Nebulosa, is an extremely rare species of the cat family. This Latin name was given to it because ‘neo’ means ‘new’ and ‘felis’ means ‘small cat,’ so it is really a new kind of small cat. This 2-3 foot long feline is equipped with a 2-3 foot tail, weighs approximately 30-50 pounds, and owns a coat ranging in colour from tan to tawny spotted with dark-edged eclipses shaped like clouds. In the wild, this carnivore lives off of a diet of sambar and mutjac deer, birds, bearded pigs, civet, monkeys, gibbons, squirrels, porcupines, fish, domestic cattle, and chickens. Those in captivity consume eggs and some vegetation. The Clouded Leopard is a tree dweller with squirrel-like agility that has been known to assist it in when it uses hunting habits such as hanging from its hind legs from trees and running down the trunk head-first or dropping from treetops onto its prey. Their secretive nature and being generally solitary makes them hard to observe but they are thought to be active night and day and that their lifespan is about 17 years in captivity. Its main predator is humans.

Status

Due to the fact Clouded Leopards are extremely rare and that they are solitary, scientists are not able to produce a very accurate estimate regarding their numbers although they are thought to be declining. Their hypothesis is that about 230 still roam in the wild and about 100 live in captivity. Their declining numbers are thought to be a result of threatening human practices such as hunting them for their pelt, teeth, and bones for traditional Chinese medicinal purposes, and destroying their habitats.