Clouded Leopard

Facts

IUCN VULNERABLE (VU)

Facts about this animal

The clouded leopard, named for the cloud-like spots of its coat that provide camouflage in its forest habitat, is the most arboreal of all large cat species. and among the best climbers in the cat family. Clouded leopards are able to climb upside down underneath tree branches and hang from branches with their hind feet. Several adaptations allow them to achieve these arboreal skills: The short and stout legs provide excellent leverage and a low centre of gravity while climbing. Large paws with sharp claws allow to gain a good grip on tree branches. The very long tail is extremely important as a balancing aid. The hind feet possess flexible ankle joints that allow the foot to rotate greatly. This adaptation allows clouded leopards to descend, squirrel-like, head first from a tree.

Did you know?
that the clouded leopard has the largest canine teeth in proportion to its body size of any of the cat family? A clouded leopard's jaws can open wider than any other cat's, and its tooth development is most like that of the extinct saber-toothed tiger with the canine teeth being 5 cm long.

Factsheet
Class	MAMMALIA
Order	CARNIVORA
Suborder	FISSIPEDIA
Family	FELIDAE
Name (Scientific)	Neofelis nebulosa (including Neofelis diardi)
Name (English)	Clouded Leopard
Name (French)	Panthère longibande, Panthère nébuleuse
Name (German)	Nebelparder
Name (Spanish)	Pantera longibanda, Pantera nebulosa
Local names	Bahasa: Macan dahan Malay: Rimaudahan
CITES Status	Appendix I
CMS Status	Not listed

Photo Copyright by
Vearl Brown

Distribution

Distribution
Range	Southeast Asia. Most recently, the clouded leopard has been split into two monotypic species: Neofelis nebulosa of Bhutan, China, India, Lao PDR, peninsular Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Taiwan, Thailand and Viet Nam, possibly also still Bangladesh and Cambodia, and Neofelis diardi of Sumatra and Borneo (Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia). More recently, splitting of diardi into two subspecies, sumatrensis and borneensis has been suggested.
Habitat	Dense evergreen forest in the lowlands and hills, including swamps and high grass areas
Wild population	Approx. < 10'000 (1996)
Zoo population	255 (114.140.1) registered by the International Studbook (31 Dec. 2008) in 72 Institutions. 159 reported to ISIS (April 2009)

In the Zoo

How this animal should be transported

Transport crates should be sufficiently large to meet legal requirements, sufficiently strong to prevent escape or damage to the crate and animal, and have an adequate number of handles. Basic design should allow free flow of air through multiple sides of the container. A double door design on each end of the crate should be used. The "inner" door on each end should have bars to contain the animal, and the "outer" door should consist of a thin panel of expanded metal that provides safety for the handlers. The doors on each end of the crate should travel vertically to facilitate animal transfer and contain a secure locking system. The crate should drain well, and absorbent bedding should be used to prevent the animal from being exposed to or lying in urine or excreta. The crate should be of a size that allows easy lifting, transport and movement through doorways.

The shipment should be organised in a way to minimise stress. The animal should have access to its transport crate for 2 weeks before shipment, preferably being fed within it. If an extended trip is anticipated, water and eventually food should be provided while the animal is in transit. Ideally one of the animal's keepers should accompany it during transport, providing for its care and helping it adjust to the new environment.

For air transport, Container Note 72 of the IATA Live Animals Regulations should be followed.

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Photo Copyright by
Theonlysilentbob

Why do zoos keep this animal

The clouded leopard is a vulnerable species with a relatively small total population. In 1973, when the species was heavily traded for its fur, an International Studbook was established under the WAZA umbrella, and zoos maintain now a largely self-sustained reserve population managed under several regional conservation breeding programmes. The clouded leopard, being a highly specialized cat species is also an interesting subject for environmental education. If well presented it is a good ambassador for its threatened forest ecosystem.

How this animal should be kept

Legal requirements for the keeping of large cats vary greatly from country to country. Even if lower national standards apply, it is recommended that an outdoor enclosure of 200 m² per pair, or a female with offspring if kept separate, should be provided. The enclosure should be enlarged by 50 m² for each additional adult. In cold and temperate climatic zones, an indoor enclosure of at least 15 m² per adult animal is necessary, where a minimum temperature of 15?C should be maintained. Enclosures should be at least 4 m high and should be covered by a steel net.

Dens should contain at least an elevated resting place and, for providing drinking water, a good solid metal dish that is cleaned every day and heavy enough not to be knocked over easily, or a licksit, or an automatically filled bowl that can be easily disassembled for cleaning. There should be at least one den more than there are animals. The dens should be interconnected by slide doors. Slides are better horizontal than vertical, and should be positioned so the keeper can see the area around the slide clearly while operating it. Hydraulics are unnecessary for clouded leopards.

The animals should have access to the outdoor enclosure all year round, and, whenever possible also during night. If they are locked into the indoor enclosure at night, it is recommended that there should be an indoor enclosure of at least 50 m² for two compatible adults.

Outdoor enclosures should be well drained. They should have natural soil with a grass cover or a layer of sand, marly limestone or bark chippings. Bark chippings in sunlight get acidic and discourage parasite load. Enclosures must not be empty but suitably furnished to meet the clouded leopards? needs such as the following: Visual barriers to enable the clouded leopards to hide from one another, such as logs, vertical panels, plantings, but these should not allow one cat to corner another, there should always be an escape route. Trees for scratching and shade. Platforms for sitting on and overlooking a view - if possible, one in the shade and one in the sun. Plants that smell strong and/or attract insects add interest. There must be several resting places providing some protection from inclement weather.

Clouded leopards are solitary animals and should be kept alone, in pairs or small groups of compatible animals. Females giving birth and rearing cubs should be separated. There should be a cubbing den; dry, dark, quiet, warm, draught-free, positioned in the least disturbed part of the facility. A wooden den in this for giving birth is an option but not essential if the den is well designed. A low-light video camera in this is good if there is the money for it. A keeper spyhole is an option instead but take care that using it does not disturb the mother.

Access to outside enclosure for regular cleaning should be through either the indoor facility or a lock chamber so that there is more security. There should be at least two lockable doors between a cat and the outside world at any time. Doors should open inward; that way if a door is not locked and a cat pushes on it, it stays closed. There can also be a large gate directly from the outside enclosure to the outside world for occasional use when wanting to bring in a new tree or large log or other cage furniture.

The diet should consist of entire carcases, meat on the bone, eventually with skin, supplemented with mineral salts and vitamins, and occasionally by-products. In North America commercial diets consisting of minced meat with mineral and vitamin supplements are available. Such feed is, however, not deemed to be in compliance with animal welfare regulations of many countries in Europe and possibly elsewhere. When feeding poultry, it should be considered that all large cats are susceptible to virulent strains of avian influenza.