Apparently highly adapted for an arboreal existence, the Bornean clouded leopards are said to be mostly terrestrial, those elsewhere live more or less in the trees. Panwar and Gopal (1984) state than due to their short legs they are rather clumsy when on the ground. Their behaviour is flexible and they use roads and artificial trails to travel and hunt.
They have been seen during the day, but their activity periods are mainly crepuscular. Resting individuals have been observed in nests, high in trees. Rabinowitz et al (1987) report that they sleep on top of boulders in rocky areas and suggest that this behaviour could be an adaptation to avoid being eaten by ground-dwelling leeches.
When eating, the clouded leopard’s posture is close to that of the large or
Panthera cats; they lie down to feed, rather than crouch as small cats do.
The social systems of clouded leopards are unknown but it has been reported that a couple may stay together for a period. Certainly in captivity, some males have been known to tolerate the female and her kittens and vice versa although, sadly there have been more reports of fatal fights between captive cats kept in the same enclosure.
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Most litters consist of two cubs but four or even five have been born in captivity. Gestation periods range from 86 to 109 days.
The cubs weigh about 140 to 280 grammes at birth and are weaned in 93 days. Their eyes are open by 12 days and the cubs can walk when they are about 20 days old. If allowed, they will continue to suckle for five months.
Males are said to develop faster than females and they achieve adult coloration when they are about six months old.
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In India the clouded leopard seems to have benefited from the efforts to conserve the tiger (Panwar and Gopal 1984). Both animals share the same habitat, so both gain from the tiger reserves. However these cats provide extremely desirable products. Markets in Bangladesh have been flooded with clouded leopard skins (Khan 1984). The remaining Bangladeshi populations are sustained and replenished by individuals from the neighbouring forests in India and Burma.
Rabinowitz et al (1987) state that the clouded leopard, the largest felid on Borneo, is still present in some numbers. It is not frequently encountered or specifically hunted and there is virtually no market for skins or bodyparts. Although the natives often shoot it on sight it does not seem to be in imminent danger of extinction.
Although the clouded leopard is protected in China, Bangjie (1984) reports that pelts are openly bought and sold. 119 were declared caught in 1980/81. He implies that there is a substantial breeding population in Chinese zoos and concludes that clouded leopards are rare, but not as much so as the larger cats.
Killing a clouded leopard bestowed heroic status on the hunter in Taiwan (Nowell 1990b). Hunting them has been illegal for the past 20 years but their skins remain a great badge of wealth. There is now a lucrative market for Chinese smugglers. Nowell (1990a) states that the most recent sighting of a wild Formosan clouded leopard was by a biologist in 1983, the animal was a snared juvenile. She reports that there is a large amount of protected habitat, high in the mountains. The clouded leopard’s historical distribution is below 2,500 metres, Nowell hopes that it can adapt to live higher. As far as is known, there are no representatives of this subspecies in captivity.
Habitat destruction and human persecution have placed the clouded leopard in a ‘Vulnerable' classification according to the IUCN (Conservation and Legal Status of Wild Cats,
Cat News 12, 1990, p.26).
The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) has placed it on Appendix I, prohibiting all international commerce.
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Studbook Keeper
Norah B. Fletchall
Assistant Director
John Ball Zoological Gardens
1300 W. Fulton Street NW
Grand Rapids
Michigan 49504, USA |
A captive breeding programme needs to have regard to keeping separate the various subspecies, while at the same time avoiding the dangers of inbreeding.
This is achieved by the maintenance of a studbook which is used to select suitable breeding partners for captive animals. Such studbooks are maintained on a voluntary basis by dedicated individuals or teams at various zoos around the world.
Zoos with Clouded Leopards
Last revision 11th June, 2002
© September 1996-2002 The Cat Survival Trust, The Centre, Codicote Road, Welwyn, AL6 9TU, England.
| Telephone: +44 (0)1438 716873 | Fax: +44 (0)1438 717535 |
email: cattrust@aol.com
The clouded leopard is an animal of the tropical forests, up to altitudes of about 2,500 metres. It seems to be able to survive in marginal scrub and in selectively logged secondary forest. It is found throughout south east Asia, from Nepal, Bhutan and southern China to Malaysia, Borneo and Sumatra. Bangjie (1984) stated that the clouded leopard has a wider distribution in China than had been thought. He reported that it could be found as far north as the north west border. It was endemic to Taiwan but has probably been hunted to extinction.
