Why is the clouded leopard vulnerable

Furthermore, wood collectors live off the land as they work, hunting for meat and displacing wildlife. This trade is so lucrative that these wood poachers often employ armed guards to accompany them. In addition to habitat disturbance, the clouded leopard and its prey are targeted by both commercial and subsistence hunters. Because larger wild cat species such as tigers and leopards have mostly been hunted out of their range, clouded leopards are increasingly becoming the targets of commercial poachers seeking their skins, bones, and meat.

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.

Stemming the flow of this wildlife trade is proving difficult. Clouded leopard pelts are the most commonly seen pelts on the illegal market. In , more than eighty clouded leopard pelts were for sale in one market in Myanmar Burma. Restaurants in Thailand and China that cater to wealthy Asian tourists also feature clouded leopard meat on their menus. Fewer than 10 clouded leopards in the wild have been radio-collared and studied; 90 percent of what is known about clouded leopards comes from research on captive populations.

Biologists traditionally divided clouded leopards into four regional subspecies. In late , a team of scientists including Smithsonian's National Zoo theriogenologist JoGayle Howard, found genetic evidence of two distinct species of clouded leopards. It is estimated that the two forms diverged about 1.

There is evidence that this species will be further divided into two distinct subspecies representing their origin: Neofelis diardi borneensis on the island of Borneo; Neofelis diardi sumatrensis on the island of Sumatra. This species is separate from Neofelis nebulosa, which retains three subspecies: N. This is the type on the Zoo's Asia Trail. Two clouded leopard cubs, a male name Paitoon and a female named Jilian, live together on Asia Trail.

Skip to main content. Entry passes are required for all guests, including infants. All visitors ages 2 and older are required to wear a mask in all indoor spaces at the Zoo, regardless of their vaccination status. Fully vaccinated visitors do not need to wear a mask in outdoor areas. Asia Trail. Clouded leopard. Video of Clouded leopard. Animals Animals A-Z Clouded leopard. Share this page:. Fact sheet Conservation Meet the Animals Physical Description Due to its forest habitat, clouded leopards have large, dexterous paws with specialized footpads for gripping branches.

Size Males weigh up to 50 pounds 23 kilograms. Communication Due to a different bone structure in their neck, the clouded leopard cannot roar like the larger cats, but also cannot purr because it lacks the fully ossified hyoid bone that allows small cats this ability.

Reproduction and Development Clouded leopards are sexually mature around 2 years old. Sleep Habits Clouded leopards are thought to be primarily nocturnal. Lifespan The average life span of the clouded leopard is 12 to 15 years, though they may live up to 17 years in human care. Animals Wild Cities Wild parakeets have taken a liking to London. Animals Wild Cities Morocco has 3 million stray dogs.

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It is fully protected in Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei. Recent efforts from Borneo helped and are continuing to increase the knowledge about the Sunda clouded leopard. One programme in Borneo combined capacity building with public awareness and conservation initiatives based on local input.

Further research is still needed to better understand the ecology, distribution and status of the Sunda clouded leopard. Sunda clouded leopard density seems to vary considerably across a relatively small spatial scale. It is important to know which habitat types the species uses and which landscape features present barriers to their movements and dispersal, a question that is currently being explored on Borneo.

Another important point is the protection of and research into the prey species of the Sunda clouded leopard. No single protected area is currently big enough to permanently sustain a viable population of Sunda clouded leopards. It is therefore essential to maintain suitable habitat corridors and connect isolated areas with one another to allow gene flow between otherwise isolated subpopulations.

Successful conservation efforts require that habitat destruction and poaching activity is prevented, public awareness is increased and law implementation is enforced. Contacts Help Impressum. Sunda clouded leopard. Weight: kg Body length: cm Tail length: cm Longevity: average 11, up to 17 years Litter size: cubs. Status and Distribution. Habitat of the Sunda clouded leopard, Malaysia. Sunda clouded leopard in its typical habitat.

Camera trap picture of a Sunda clouded leopard, Malaysia. Sunda clouded leopard camera trap picture, Malaysia.