Clouded Leopard

The main threats to clouded leopards are habitat loss and poaching. The mainland clouded leopard is listed as Vulnerable by IUCN and is considered to be declining in both abundance and distribution. The enormous and rapidly growing human population across the species’ range puts extreme pressure on the cat. A major cause of habitat loss comes from the burgeoning palm oil industry, where natural forests are cut down and replaced with a monoculture of oil palm plantations. The clouded leopard population is believed to have declined by over 30% in the last 20 years. It is now very patchily distributed across its historic range, which once covered all of mainland Southeast Asia from Nepal and eastern India into southern China and down to the tip of mainland Malaysia.

Clouded leopards are also trafficked in the wildlife trade, hunted for their teeth and pelts, and their bones are used in some traditional medicines.

What we’re doing

As a partner with the Wildlife Trafficking Alliance, Zoo New England collaborates with a powerful coalition of nonprofit organizations, companies and AZA-accredited aquariums and zoos working together to combat the illegal trade of wildlife.

You can help!

• Join us in helping curb illegal wildlife trade by making informed buying choices. Don’t support the trade or use of clouded leopards and report any instances where you may suspect wildlife is trafficked.
• Small choices at the store can buy a better future for wildlife everywhere. Look for symbols like FSC (Forestry Stewardship Council) on wood products, RSPO certified (Roundtable for Sustainable Palm Oil) on soaps and foods, and Dolphin Safe for seafood like tuna.

Appearance:
The clouded leopard earns its name from its cloud-like spots. Its fur varies in color from brown to pale yellow-gray, with irregular stripes, spots and blotches that provide excellent camouflage among the trees. They have large, dexterous paws and unique ankle joints that can rotate 180 degrees, allowing them to climb down trees headfirst—one of the few animals capable of doing so.

With their stocky build, clouded leopards are larger than small cats but not quite as big as true big cats. They have proportionally short legs, giving them a lower center of gravity for climbing, and a remarkably long tail—the longest in relation to body size of any wild cat—which aids in balance. The clouded leopard is often called the "modern saber-tooth" because its canine teeth are larger in proportion to its body size than those of any other cat.

Size:
Adults typically weigh from 24 to 50 pounds. Male clouded leopards are typically larger than females.

Diet:
This species is entirely carnivorous, hunting a variety of vertebrate animals both on the ground and in trees. Their long canines and powerful hunting skills enable them to tackle and consume large prey. Clouded leopards are known to eat macaques, hog deer, slow lorises, porcupines, pangolins, ground squirrels, and pheasants.

Reproduction:
Both male and female leopards reach sexual maturity around 26 months of age, with mating season typically occurring between December and March. During her 30-day cycle, a female is in estrus for about six days and generally gives birth to one litter each year. Clouded leopard cubs are born in litters of one to five, with an average of three cubs, weighing between 140 and 280 grams at birth. Their eyes open around 10 days of age, and they become active within five weeks. Weaning occurs at about three months, and by six months, they develop their adult coloration. Cubs are fully independent when they're about 10 months old.

Behavior:
Clouded leopards are entirely solitary. Typically, they spend their days resting in trees and hunting on the ground at night, though they can also be active during twilight hours. Exceptional climbers, their physiology allows them to navigate tree limbs with remarkable agility. 

To communicate with one another, clouded leopards use scent marking and produce a distinctive high-pitched meow. They exhibit social behaviors similar to other cats, such as chuffing and head bobbing when greeting each other, while growling and hissing indicate aggression.

Habitat/range:
Thailand, China and Malaysia

Median Life Expectancy:
11 to 13 years on average

Threats:
The main threats that clouded leopards face are habitat loss through deforestation and poaching for their pelt and bones.