The clouded leopard population (Neofelis nebulosa) is declining, A new study suggests that habitat fragmentation, inbreeding and difficult captive breeding are to blame for the decline in both species of cat, N, nebulosa and N diardi.
According to Mongabay the study is prompting experts to try and find ways to help the cats.
According to Brittanica
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“There are two species of clouded leopard, which are genetically distinct from one another. Neofelis nebulosa, found on the mainland of southeastern Asia, particularly in forests and other wooded regions, and N. diardi (also called the Bornean clouded leopard), found on the islands of Sumatra and Borneo, are thought to have diverged about 1.4 million years ago. The population of clouded leopards declined sharply in the latter half of the 20th century as a result of hunting and deforestation. They are reported to be nocturnal and to live in trees; they prey on birds and on small mammals, such as pigs and monkeys.”
Britannica says:
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“A rather short-legged cat, the clouded leopard has a long head and large upper-canine teeth that are proportionately longer than those of any other cat. The coat of N. nebulosa is short and grayish brown, spotted on the body with large, dark patches partly edged with black; the head, legs, and long tail are spotted. N. diardi is similar in appearance but has a darker coat and smaller patches. The male clouded leopard may attain a length of about 106 cm (42 inches) excluding the 90-cm tail, a shoulder height of about 80 cm, and a weight of about 23 kg (50 pounds); the female is smaller.”
Current estimates suggest the clouded leopard population numbers about 10,000 in the wild. They are considered vulnerable to extinction.
In many cats captive breeding helps reduce extinction threats. Unfortunately, among the clouded leopard population in captivity the males were killing the females.
Close observation of the cats and attempts to reduce stress appear to be the key. The males were prone to kill the females at night if they were left alone. But Smithsonian National Zoo researchers worked with counterparts in Thailand to help unravel the problem. Researchers began making changes in caretaking. Eventually, stress hormones in the cat’s droppings fell as a result of the changes they made.
The changes included closer monitoring of the animals. The introduction of stress reducing enrichments, and gradual introduction among cats.
NBC said of the Smithsonian efforts:
“For years the incredibly rare cats had frustrated zookeepers hoping to breed them. The males killed the females, sometimes almost instantly. Even if they could tolerate one another in a cage, they refused to breed. And they hid. The Smithsonian staff overcame those problems through dogged patience, making one change after another to reduce the animals’ stress, improve their health and get them in the mood for mating. These ranged from giving them trees to climb, to varying their diet and gradually getting them used to being together.”
Because of genetic similarities clouded leopards are sometime classed among the big cats. They are not true leopards. Thy do have the longest teeth in proportion of any current cat. Somewhat like “saber-toothed tigers.” The clouded leopard population is so scattered that no more than 1,000 are thought to exist in each range country.
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