| Clouded leopard is a unique animal. A medium sized | | | | Owing to its rarity and elusive nature, the Clouded |
| cat, it has sufficient genetic diversity to classify into a | | | | Leopard has seldom been studied in the wild. Few |
| specie, unique from the leopard and Bornean clouded | | | | animals have been successfully collared and |
| leopard. The cat, though, is not strictly included in big | | | | monitored. As a result, very little is known about its |
| or small cats, owing to its inability to roar or purr | | | | behavior in nature, though it is generally considered a |
| respectively. Length is around three to four feet, | | | | solitary cat that comes together for mating and |
| weight approximately forty to fifty pounds, with | | | | perhaps raring of the young. Gestational period is |
| males being generally bigger. It occurs in the wild | | | | around three months and on average a litter of three |
| exclusively in South East Asia. | | | | cubs is born. They are blind and helpless initially but |
| The Clouded Leopard coat is generally tawny and is | | | | become active in a month's time. Lifespan is nearly |
| marked by a number of irregular shapes mimicking | | | | seventeen years in captivity and eleven years in the |
| clouds, hence the name. The tail is nearly three feet | | | | wild. |
| long, at times as long as the body, and assists the | | | | The beautiful Clouded Leopard is classified as a |
| cat in its acrobatic climbs up and down trees. Capable | | | | vulnerable specie and strict embargoes are placed by |
| of moving over branches horizontally, hanging from | | | | CITES and the US government on the trade of live |
| them by its hind legs, and coming down tree trunks | | | | animals or its parts, allowing only the scientific study |
| head first - clouded leopard is considered as one of | | | | of these great cats. The bans though are poorly |
| the best tree climbers in all cats, a fact assisted by | | | | enforced in the native countries and this has led to a |
| large paws and sharp claws that support grip on | | | | global Clouded Leopard population that is less than |
| trees. In fact it spends most of its day time on | | | | five hundred - much like Asiatic lions they face |
| trees, resting on branches. | | | | extinction unless greater protection of these cats and |
| Previously considered a nocturnal hunter, the Clouded | | | | their habitat is enforced in the wild. |
| Leopard is now seen in activity during day time as | | | | Breeding in captivity is quite difficult owing to the |
| well. Prey is usually taken on the ground, though | | | | aggressive nature of male clouded leopards who |
| jumping at it from trees is a preferred tactic. Hunting | | | | frequently attack females when introduced to them. |
| is assisted by its long canine teeth, considered to be | | | | A new approach though, that employs grouping the |
| the longest proportional to body size in family felidae. | | | | animals together before they are one year of age, |
| In fact the long fangs have led many to compare the | | | | has proven to be more successful, raising some |
| Clouded Leopard to the Saber toothed tiger! Prey is | | | | home for sustenance of this wonderful specie of |
| usually small to mid-sized animals including monkeys, | | | | cats! |
| birds, porcupines and deer. | | | | |