Smoky leopard. Bornean clouded leopard Taiwanese clouded leopard description

Clouded leopard is a carnivore. These few individuals belong to the mammals of the cat family. The closest species is the Kalimantan or Bornean clouded leopard. Smoky representatives can be found in the southeast Asian forests.

The Asian predator has an unusual color. The main background of the coat can cast a straw brown, up to a dark grayish tint. The muzzle is white with black markings on the forehead and cheeks. The belly and short legs are decorated with oval charcoal spots.

In babies up to six months, the spots on the sides are solid, differing in brightness. In older animals, the spots take on the shape of an ellipse with light hair in the center. The rear group of spots is slightly different in color intensity from the front, they are darker and more expressive.

Height animal, measured at the withers, ranges from 50-60 cm. length body (with a head, but without a tail) is 75-100 cm, the tail has the same length as the whole body - up to 90 cm. Weight adult pets averages 20 kg. Females differ slightly in size from males, that is, the severity of sexual dimorphism is not observed.

The external features of smoky leopards are as follows:

Existing subspecies

It is customary to distinguish animals by existing species:

• the nebulosa species is distributed in the southern territory of China, as well as in the eastern lands of Myanmar;
• macrosceloides is another subspecies native to Myanmar, also found in Nepal.

Until 1990, there was a Taiwanese subspecies, which this moment considered extinct.

Habitat and distribution of the subspecies

Clouded leopards live on the southern slopes of the Himalayas in Nepal and Bhutan, as well as in the Indian northeastern regions. Wild cats of smoky colors can also be found in the south: Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia.

Most often, clouded leopards can be found in tropical forests located at least 3 thousand meters above sea level. These predators are able to hunt not only on the ground, but also do an excellent job with animals that live in trees. Sharp claws and powerful limbs allow climbing high up tree trunks. By the way, on the tops of trees, wild cats not only hunt, but also rest.

Rainforests are not the only habitat for clouded leopards. They can be found in mangrove swamps and marshy forests. Dry rainforests and meadows can also be fraught with the danger of meeting with a predatory animal. Even coastal areas are not immune from the invasion of leopards.

Pregnancy and childbirth

Watch the mating natural conditions fails, so all conclusions are drawn from observations of pets living under human supervision. Breeding in captivity is often associated with a danger to the life of the female.

Males during mating behave so aggressively that they bite through the neck of the female.

This usually happens if the male and female were kept in different enclosures before the act of acquaintance. When living together, mating is much more effective. This fact suggests the monogamy of animals, but scientists do not confirm this hypothesis.

The process of copulation in a zoo most often occurs during winter months or early spring. But this does not mean that animals do not mate in other periods. Spawns are possible throughout the year. During flirting, the male bites the withers of the female and begins sexual intercourse, while the female makes lingering sounds. Copulation happens multiple times.

Under natural conditions, animals choose elevated platforms for mating games, from the slopes of which the groaning lingering sound of a satisfied female echoes. From the moment of conception to delivery, it takes from 85 to 95 days, the terms are conditional and can shift both up and down.

The female is indicated by a rounded belly by the third trimester and enlarged nipples. There are from 1 to 5 babies in a litter, but most often 2 cubs are born in captivity. The weight of the baby that was born is only 100-140 g, this figure also changes and depends on the number of babies in the litter. Newborn pets are born with eyes closed, only after 10 days they “see clearly”.

Babies start walking around 4 weeks after birth. 1.5 months after birth, little leopards perfectly master the height and climb trees without fear. The ability to hunt in babies wakes up quite early. Already in 2-3 months they are capable of killing a bird, chicken or small rodent. Newborn babies are licked and fed by the mother, this is the only food that kittens receive from their mother until they are two months old.

At the age of two months, babies can already switch to meat, refusing mother's milk. The female begins to bring small prey from the hunt, with which she feeds the cubs. Until the age of ten months, children live under their mother's care. She teaches them the wisdom of hunting and feeds them with her own prey. By the age of one year, animals are able to live separately and find their own food on their own.

Pets reach sexual maturity at 24 months, but the figure can range from 20 to 30 months. In captivity, leopards bring litters no more than once a year. Male leopards are naturally selfish. After copulation, the couple separates, and only the mother is involved in raising the babies and feeding them. Males do not participate in the learning process of offspring.

Basic diet of wild cats

Predators are carnivores and feed on various species of birds, fish, small animals and rodents. All animals smaller than clouded leopards, and living in the same territory as them, can be in their teeth. The exception is other predators living on the same lands.

The main diet consists of:

• wild boars;
• gophers;
• macaques;
• loris;
• pig deer;
• fish from local waters.

Do not disdain predators and domestic animals, they attack pigs, kids, calves, cats, dogs. Their crown bite is back side neck.

Lifespan

The life expectancy of predators is about 11 years. IN wild nature there are many dangers that can shorten the age of clouded leopards. This and Forest fires, and human activities leading to the destruction of natural habitats, as well as larger predators that can attack.

In zoos with good care, pets live up to 15-17 years. No specific diseases that shorten the life of clouded leopards have been identified, since research in this area has not been conducted.

The habits of predators

Spotted leopards hunt most often in the dark, vision and dexterity allow this. Special structure limbs and body allow predators to overtake prey right on the crown of trees. Short-legged and a long tail help the leopard masterfully perform real acrobatic numbers.

These animals are able to descend from trees upside down, hang on branches, catching on with their hind limbs. Such physical data allow you to kill birds gaping on the branches. Trees serve as a place of rest and salvation. Found in tropical thickets special kind leeches that can spoil the sleep of wild cats, and on tree branches it is dry and relatively safe.

On a spreading crown, you can escape from larger counterparts that pose a threat to life. Leopards and tigers are not averse to driving smoky animals through the forest, so trees are a great refuge for the latter.

Leopards of this species do not live in packs, they can be called solitary animals. For reproduction, the male finds a suitable female for himself, after the fertilization of which he disappears from sight. In the wild, you can see a female with cubs, which, after growing up, leave their native territory and settle down in a new place.

The territory inhabited by 1 representative of this family is approximately 35 sq. km. The area that is actively used is from 2 to 5 square meters. km. In females and males, the habitats are approximately the same in size. In addition, the ranges of animals of the opposite sex partially overlap.

Threats to life in the wild

The main threat to the predator is man. People track wild cats using packs of dogs. The skins of killed predators are used for sale, tailoring, as carpets. Wild predatory cats do not like to come close to areas of human settlement, only natural disasters and lack of food can lead the smoky leopard to human dwellings.

Clouded leopards live in the same areas as tigers, common leopards. This neighborhood with large predators leads to the fact that medium-sized cats are forced to lead a nocturnal and arboreal lifestyle. In the absence of on-site large predators the clouded leopard descends to the ground and even into the water for prey.

Spotted coloring of wool is camouflage. Thanks to her, animals dissolve in the branches of trees and become almost invisible to larger rivals and prey, which makes hunting easier.

The role of animals in the ecosystem

The role of predators in nature is underestimated by people. The extermination of leopards, tigers and other predatory animals contributes to the uncontrolled growth of herbivore populations. Reproduction of herbivores leads to the destruction of vegetation, which can cause starvation of people.

Economic benefit and harm

Clouded leopards are hot commodity on the black markets. Due to the high cost of the skins of these animals, they are constantly hunted. In addition, in Asian countries, the skin of an animal gives a high status to its owner.

Not only the skin goes on sale, the teeth, bones and claws of a predator are considered valuable. They are used for medical purposes, as well as amulets and amulets. In expensive Asian restaurants, you can find clouded leopard dishes on the menu. Exotic lovers purchase clouded leopards for personal use. They are tamed and domesticated.

Predators bring not only benefit to humanity. Due to the reduction in habitat, these animals are forced to live close to humans. Clouded leopard attacks on domestic animals are not uncommon. Pigs, goats, as well as birds and other pets can suffer.

To combat predators, many villagers use illegal methods. They scatter poison, which leads to the death of animals.

One of the rarest representatives The clouded leopard is considered to be a member of the feline family. Let's take a look at the photo of a clouded leopard and admire this truly majestic predator.

Clouded leopard habitat is tropical dry forests. This species is considered endangered, therefore predators are protected by law in most of the range. But in Thailand and India, few people follow these laws.

Today, about 250 clouded leopards are kept in zoos, and there are about 10,000 individuals in the wild.

Appearance of the animal

In length, male clouded leopards reach 80-105 centimeters, and females - 68-95 centimeters. To this figure it is still worth adding the length of the tail - 60-90 centimeters. The height at the withers is about 50-55 centimeters. Clouded leopards weigh 11-23 kilograms.

The animal has short and wide limbs, while the hind legs are longer than the front ones. The shape of the head is elongated. The fangs are large.

The eyes are yellow. The skin is dark buff or dark gray with dark gray or black spots. The spots are large, their shape is not the same.

There are also spots on the head. Black stripes run from the corners of the eyes to the mouth. The spots along the spine are elongated. There are also spots on the abdomen and legs. The tail is encircled by black half-rings.

Clouded leopard habitat

The clouded leopard lives in the southeastern regions of Asia: in India, the foothills of the Himalayas, Bhutan, Myanmar, Thailand and in the evergreen forests of Bangladesh. These predators are also found in the southern regions of China and West Bengal.

Clouded leopard lifestyle and nutrition

Clouded leopards are solitary animals. IN daytime they rest on the branches of trees and go hunting at night. The predator sneaks up to the victim and pursues it, or attacks it from a tree.

Listen to the clouded leopard

Little is known about the life of these predators, since they are very hidden, it is difficult to keep track of them in dense vegetation. These felines are excellent tree climbers and good swimmers. Monkeys, goats, birds, reptiles and rodents become victims of smoky leopards.

Reproduction and lifespan

Puberty in smoky leopards comes to two years of life. mating season lasts from December to March, at this time the level of aggression in males is extremely high.

The pregnancy process lasts 3 months. A litter consists of 2-5 babies, but most often there are three of them. The weight of newborns is 160-260 grams. Babies are completely helpless and blind. The color of the kittens is monophonic, there are no spots, they begin to appear only by 6 months.

Leopards open their eyes 10 days after birth. The female feeds the babies with milk for 3 months. And already 10 months after birth, the young begin an independent life. Females bring offspring annually.

In the wild, the life expectancy of clouded leopards is about 11 years, in zoos, members of the family live a little longer, maximum age is 17 years old.

What are the current threats to the numbers of these predators?

The main threat to the population is the loss of natural natural environment. The blame for this lies with the people, as they are engaged in active deforestation. Deals population damage and poaching. Clouded leopards are shot for their magnificent skins, claws and teeth.

Clouded leopard is an ancient, predatory and agile animal, one of the ancestors cat family . It is found in the mountain forests of Nepal, southern Indochina and China, in Sumatra, Burma, on the islands of Java and Borneo. He spends almost his entire life on trees, which is probably why the people of Malaysia call him the tree tiger. Some peoples of Thailand consider the predator to be their spiritual ancestor.

The animal is assigned to a separate genus and direct relation has nothing to do with ordinary ones. Due to the presence of some anatomical, morphological and behavioral signs occupies an intermediate niche between representatives of large and small cats. The landscape where the clouded leopard lives is diverse - rain evergreen forests, mangroves, savannas, highlands up to two and a half thousand meters.

Population status

The largest number of animals is found on Borneo island. This is due to the absence of natural enemies of the beast there - leopards and tigers. Clouded leopards are rare in other regions.

The main threat to the beast is the growth of human settlements and the destruction of forests. Significant damage to the population is caused by poaching. Beautiful expensive fur is used to make fur coats. Meat, bones, fangs of an animal are used in oriental medicine.

Due to the danger of complete extinction, the predator is listed in the Red Book. Now there are about 10,000 individuals in the population.

Appearance

In life and in the photo, the smoky leopard has a characteristic appearance. It is difficult to confuse it with any other wild cat, and all this is due to the unique color, long tail, special shape of the head. The size of the animal is comparable to the size of a large dog.

• The body reaches a length of 70 - 100 cm. The height at the withers is up to 55 cm.
• Tail - 80 - 90 cm.
• The weight of females is 12 - 16 kg, males - 16 - 22 kg.
• The skull is elongated in the facial region. The jaws are powerful, with long (up to 4 cm) and sharp, like a saber, fangs. The mouth can open much wider than other cats.
• The eyes are greenish-yellow, with oval pupils.
• The nose is pink.
• The ears are of medium size, with a rounded edge, set wide apart, painted in a dark color behind.
• The paws are massive and short. The hind limbs are slightly longer than the forelimbs. The feet are wide, with rough, thick skin on the pads. Thanks to this structure of the feet, the animal easily climbs smooth-bore trees, masterfully moves along horizontal branches in any direction, even upside down.
• Claws are sharp and fully retractable.
• The coat is dense, of medium length and hardness. The main coat color is dark gray or dark yellow. Chest, abdomen and inner surface paws off-white.
• The spotted pattern consists of well-defined spots of various sizes. irregular shape. Elongated, large spots with dark borders and a light middle are located on the sides and on the back. Oblong, black spots stretch along the spine from the neck to the tail. On the muzzle in the forehead area there are small, dark marks. Up and down off inner corner the eyes have black stripes, the same stripes extend in different directions from the corners of the mouth. Paws, tail, belly are covered with dark spots of different sizes. At the very end, the spots merge, and the tail becomes almost black.

Subspecies

Latin name species - Neofelis nebulosa. Until 2008, the Bornean or Kalimantan clouded leopard was considered its subspecies. After a detailed study of the pattern on the coat, the structural features of the jaw, skull and genetic studies given fact not confirmed. The animals were assigned to the clouded leopard genus (Latin name Neofelis), but to different types. It is reliably known about three subspecies of a predator:

• The subspecies Neofelis nebulosa nebulosa is found in Indochina and China.
• Representatives Neofelis nebulosa macrosceloides live in Myanmar and Nepal.
• The subspecies Neofelis nebulosa brachyura used to live in Taiwan, but now there is not a single individual of this species left.

Lifestyle and nutrition

The animal keeps in the depths of the forest and leads a solitary existence. Best of all of its relatives, it can climb trees, swims well, can hang from branches upside down, clinging to them with its hind legs.

The size of hunting grounds depends on the type of terrain and the amount of prey. Males occupy an area from 30 to 45 km 2, females - from 20 to 25 km 2. The areas of males overlap with those of several females. The living space is marked with excrement, scratches on the trunks and branches of trees, jealously guarded from competitors.

With sharp binocular vision, the clouded leopard can hunt at any time of the day, but more often does so at night. In search of a victim, it runs more than one kilometer, jumps from branch to branch, easily overcomes water obstacles encountered on the way.

It watches prey from a tree, concentrating as much as possible and pressing its ears to its head. When the right moment comes, it pushes off the branch with its hind legs and makes a flying jump, balancing its tail in the air. Sharp, long fangs instantly hit the game, leaving it no chance.

The basis of the diet is: birds, monkeys, deer, wild goats, young ungulates, porcupines. Sometimes the menu is replenished with fish and reptiles.

Reproduction and care of offspring

In the wild, all the secrets of the life of a predator are hidden by dense vegetation, and little is known about its reproduction. In captivity, the mating season lasts from March to August, accompanied by gentle courtship. The mood of the male after mating changes dramatically, he becomes aggressive and unpredictable. Fatal cases of attacks by a male on a female within the same enclosure are known.

A pregnant female builds a den in a hollow tree. After 90 - 95 days, kittens are born to her (from one to five). The babies are covered with fluffy yellow-gray fur without spots, their weight does not exceed 150 - 280 grams. Newborn cubs do not see anything and hear poorly, open their eyes at the end of the second week of life.

For the first five months, kittens receive mother's milk, from two and a half months they are accustomed to solid food. As they grow older, the activity of kids increases - they play, climb trees, fight. Young clouded leopards are ready to take care of themselves on their own already at the tenth month of life. Predators reach puberty by two years.

The life expectancy of clouded leopards is 17 years in captivity, 11 years in natural conditions.

The animal is found in many zoos around the world. They create conditions close to natural environment habitat, animals receive a balanced diet and proper care. Despite this, cats breed reluctantly, and each offspring becomes a real event.

The predator's diet includes meat, bones, fish, vitamins and mineral supplements. Vaccinations are given according to age.

Buy clouded leopard A can be in a specialized nursery. There you can also look at the parents of kittens, get acquainted with the conditions and rules for keeping the future pet.
Clouded leopard prices start at $25,000.

We have already talked in great detail, and now let's look at such a representative of the cat family

Clouded Leopard, Latin name: Neofelis nebulosa. The Malaysians call it the "Tree Tiger" because it is often seen resting in the branches of trees in the jungle.

Clouded leopard lives in the southeastern part of the Asian continent, distributed from Nepal to Taiwan, including southern China and the islands of Java, Burma (Myanmar), Indochina, Malaysia, the islands of Sumatra and Borneo.

The smoky leopard differs from other felines in its great morphological and ecological originality, therefore it should be distinguished in a special genus Neofelis, which means “new cat”, occupying an intermediate position between small and large cats. Both in its anatomy and in the behavior of the animal, it combines the features of both large and small cats. Its skull and teeth are similar to large cats, but its body and other touches of bioecology are similar to smaller cats. For example, due to the fact that his hyoid bone is completely ossified, the clouded leopard can purr; his pupil is ovoid, not round. Contrary to its name, this predator is not directly related to real leopards.

This is the most big representative medium sized cats, about the size of a Labrador. His body is elongated, flexible, his hair is thick, his legs are short, with wide paws and hard bare calluses, convenient for climbing trees. The tail is especially large, heavy, furry, occupies almost half the length of the body, although the representatives of the Taiwanese smoky leopards have a noticeably shorter tail, its length is not more than 3/8 of the total size of the animal. The eyes are yellow.

The skull of the clouded leopard is elongated, which distinguishes it from other cats. Its fangs are larger than other cats in proportion to body size, and this may be an adaptation to holding onto prey caught in trees, which is a more difficult feat than trapping prey on the ground. Long fangs make it easy to kill caught prey, often only a single bite is needed. This is also aided by the wide gap between the canine teeth and premolars (thanks to the absence of a tooth preceding the upper premolar) allowing the leopard to make very large and deep bites. All this is similar to the fangs of prehistoric saber-toothed cats, which is why it is sometimes referred to as modern "saber-toothed": their upper fangs can reach 4.4 cm in length. Interestingly, the clouded leopard's jaws can also open wider than any other cat.

Colour: The Clouded Leopard is immediately recognizable by its distinctive coloration. The main color of the fur is light yellow to deep brown. The spots of unequal shape are dark brown or black, lighter in the middle, and the shadows around the spots are also light. The chest and belly are light or white with a few spots. Dark brown or black elongated spots on the neck and back. The ears are black, with a white spot in the middle. The tail is painted with non-closing black rings.

The color of four varieties of clouded leopards varies from darkish yellow-brown (in the southern part of the range) to light yellow (such are found in southern China).

Body length 69-108 cm. Tail length: 75-90 cm (average 82 cm, while for males it is 81-108 cm (average 99 cm).

Weight: The mass of the animal is from 10 to 23 kg, sometimes up to 30 kg. Females weigh about 11 kg, while males weigh 18 - 20 kg (average 19 kg). Males can be more than twice the size of females the biggest difference size between the sexes in the cat family.

Lifespan: Clouded leopards live up to 20 years in captivity, lifespan in the wild is unknown.

Habitat: Clouded leopard is a typical inhabitant of primeval rainforest, partly thickets of shrubs and swamps, where it exists mainly on trees. Keeps in the depths of rain or arid forests located at altitudes up to 2500 meters above sea level.

Enemies: natural enemies clouded leopards are larger cats. So, on the island of Borneo, perhaps due to the lack of tigers and leopards, their highest number is noted. Deforestation occurring due to commercial logging and the growth of human settlements poses a major threat to the leopard.

The clouded leopard is largely specialized in catching birds, but, in addition to them, it feeds on deer, monkeys, wild pigs, goats, porcupines, palm civet, can attack young buffaloes, large cattle. Sometimes they replenish their diet with reptiles, fish and other living creatures.

Leopards in captivity in a zoo are fed the food provided for by the diet of a carnivore, but in addition, they are necessarily given large bones of ungulates (knuckles with fingers) for chewing. At the zoo, they often get a special treat in the form of popsicles: pieces of papaya frozen in ice blocks!

It can hunt both day and night, tracking its game on the ground or overtaking it in a jump from a tree. In Sumatra (Indonesia), the clouded leopard, which lives in areas close to human habitation, is extremely cautious and therefore leads exclusively night image life. Leopards have good binocular vision and can see in light twilight about six times better than humans. At night, he deftly climbs and jumps through trees, with a long tail and wide feet helping him to balance and maintain balance. Sometimes he jumps on his prey from branches hanging above the ground, but often hunts right on the ground.

In search of prey, a leopard travels about 1-2 km per day. The clouded leopard swims well, swimming across large expanses of water and meeting on secluded islets, and, perhaps, in this way it populated small islands from Vietnam to the island of Borneo.

In Taiwan, interviews were conducted with eyewitnesses who saw a leopard in nature to find out their lifestyle. As a result, it turned out that 13 times the leopards were in the trees and 11 on the ground. Tracking a sub-adult male leopard using a radio collar in Nepal for 8 consecutive days showed only terrestrial behavior of the latter. The leopard often hunted and rested in the fields among dense thickets of vegetation 4–6 m high and tall grasses. In 1986, a survey of rural residents, forestry workers and officials forestry in Sabah and Sarawak (Malaysia) showed that in 82% of cases of observations of a leopard in nature, he traveled on the ground, usually along roads and paths in the primary or secondary forest. The team of researchers concluded that clouded leopards in this area were not true arboreal dwellers, but only used the trees in the forest as a daytime resting place.

However, it should be noted that the clouded leopard is perfectly adapted to tree image life: low center of gravity, large paws with sharp claws for gripping, long tail for balancing; and the bone structure of its wrist and flexible ankle joints allow a leopard to wrap around a tree trunk or branch in motion in much the same way as a squirrel does. Observations have shown that the leopard can move along horizontal branches, hanging upside down like a sloth, and it can even hang upside down from the branches, holding on to them only with its hind legs.

Social Structure: Solitary except during the breeding season when males actively seek out females. Individual hunting areas, depending on the type of habitat and its food supply, can occupy an area of ​​29 sq. km to 45 sq. km or more in males, and about 22-26 sq. km - in females, while the neighboring areas of males and females can overlap from 30 to 47%.

Reproduction: Offspring are born in a hollow tree, there are 1-5 cubs in the litter, each weighing 140-170 grams, sometimes up to 280. Eyes open on 10-12 days. At birth, kittens are covered with yellowish-gray fur, adult spots appear in the first 6 months. They develop relatively slowly. Walking begins at about 19-20 days of age. Cubs are extremely active for the first five months after birth. At 10 and a half weeks, they switch to adult (meat) food, but for another 5 months they receive mother's milk. At 9 months, they are already independent from their mother and begin to lead an independent life.

Breeding leopards in captivity is very problematic and very difficult. This is due to the fact that males that are in the mating season in a limited area in captivity after mating become extremely aggressive and in almost 80% of cases attack females and kill them. Therefore, mating is successful in less than 20% of cases, while conception and successful breeding of offspring is observed even less often. But zoos around the world are trying to preserve the species' genetic diversity through captive breeding. In order to obtain viable offspring and overcome the aggressiveness of males, the joint cultivation of males and females from adolescence (up to 1 year) is now practiced.

Researchers in the UK believe that the main hope for successful breeding of leopards in captivity will be artificial insemination and embryo transfers to produce healthy offspring.

Season/breeding period: Nothing is known about the reproduction of the clouded leopard in nature, but in keeping conditions, breeding occurs in March-August.

Puberty: Leopards reach sexual maturity at 20 to 30 months of age.

Pregnancy: Pregnancy lasts 86-95 days, according to other sources it is delayed up to 109 days.

Offspring: 1-5 cubs (usually 2-3, and only rarely up to 5)

Avoids people. In the last half century, clouded leopards have become more frequent in zoos in Europe.

Because of the precious skin, the clouded leopard was hunted a lot in the past. For the manufacture of one full-length fur coat, up to 20-30 leopard skins are needed.

Today, the clouded leopard is threatened by poaching. This cat is hunted not only for its fur, but also for its teeth and bones, which are highly prized in the traditional Asian medicinal trade. In addition, clouded leopard dishes are on the menu of restaurants in China and Thailand that cater to wealthy Asian tourists.

The clouded leopard is only occasionally persecuted for killing livestock.

The clouded leopard is classified as an endangered species and therefore it is listed in the international Red Book. Of the four subspecies, the Taiwan clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa brachyurus) has already become extinct.

The entire clouded leopard population is estimated at less than 10,000 mature individuals. Clouded leopard subspecies:

N. n. nebulosa South China, Indochina

N. n. brachyurus Taiwan (Extinct?)

N. n. diardi Borneo

N. n. macrosceloides Nepal to Burma

In India, the clouded leopard has benefited from efforts being made by local governments to conserve the tiger, as both animals inhabit the same habitats. However, these cats are extremely desirable prey for fur traders. Therefore, markets in Bangladesh are filled with clouded leopard skins, and the remaining Bangladeshi clouded leopard population after hunting is constantly replenished with individuals from neighboring forests in India and Burma.

The Lukai people of Thailand believe that the clouded leopard is their spiritual ancestor who brought them to their homeland.

Clouded leopards live in the mountain forests of Nepal, Sikkim, all of South China and Indochina, Taiwan, Sumatra, Kalimantan (according to some sources - in Java). They are painted very beautifully: a black marble pattern on a bright yellow or yellow-gray background. Growth from a small ordinary leopard / weight - 20 kilograms /. After many disputes, these leopards were identified as a separate genus. Clouded leopards combine in their anatomy some of the features of both large and small cats, occupying an intermediate position between them. For example, their pupils are ovoid, not round like those of big cats. The larynx of clouded leopards is arranged like that of small cats, so they are able to purr. But they can also growl. During the day, clouded leopards sleep in trees, at night they hunt large birds, sometimes they attack sika deer. Marble cat - a miniature copy of a smoky leopard! She is also colored, also long-tailed and close to him in origin, but almost half the size.

Birth is always wonderful. Birth rare species- even more beautiful. It gives hope for new world to something light and warm. Similar thoughts occurred to zookeepers in Virginia when one of the endangered clouded leopard females finally gave birth to two wonderful cubs. Not a single cub has been born at the zoo in the past 16 years, and the arrival of this pair has given renewed hope for a healthy population of rare clouded leopards.


Zookeepers observed the pregnancy of this two-year-old female leopard, Yao Chu, for five days. This is Yao Chu's first litter. She and the father of her cubs, two-year-old leopard Hannibal, were born in Thailand as a result of a joint program with the Zoological Park of Thailand. (Mehgan Murphy / Smithsonian's National Zoo)

Hannibal is the father of two adorable cubs. She and Yao Chu are the only compatible clouded leopard pair at this conservation and research center. (Mehgan Murphy / Smithsonian's National Zoo)

Born at the National Zoo in Front Royal, Virginia on March 24, this clouded leopard pair was the first in 16 years at the center. In this photo, the cubs are only one day old and are getting ready to eat, which happens every three hours. (Mehgan Murphy / Smithsonian's National Zoo)

In this image, one of the newly born clouded leopard cubs is being weighed while feeding. Raising clouded leopards in captivity is not easy due to male aggression, declining breeding rates between pairs, and high mortality among cubs. (Mehgan Murphy/ / Smithsonian's National Zoo)

Newborn cubs are monitored by experts from the center. Zoo team learned how to reduce risk deaths, deciding to introduce males to their partners from the age of six months, allowing the pair to grow up together. In this case, the cubs were quickly weaned from their mother after birth. (Mehgan Murphy/ / Smithsonian's National Zoo)

The zoo has been working with clouded leopards since 1978 with the sole aim of creating a genetically correct and healthy population of these animals. (Jessie Cohen / Smithsonian's National Zoo)

Over the past 30 years, more than 70 clouded leopards have been born at the zoo, the last litter was born back in 1993. (Lisa Ware / Smithsonian's National Zoo)

Clouded leopards live in South-East Asia, but are threatened by hunting and deforestation. At birth, they weigh about 230 grams and eventually gain up to 22 kg. The tail is half the length of the body. (Jessie Cohen / Smithsonian's National Zoo)
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And more photos and videos of a wonderful beast:

Contrary to its name, this predator is not directly related to real leopards.
This is the largest representative of medium-sized cats, approximately the size of a Labrador.
His body is elongated, flexible, his hair is thick, his legs are short, with wide paws and hard bare calluses, convenient for climbing trees.
The tail is especially large, heavy, furry, occupies almost half the length of the body, although the representatives of the Taiwanese smoky leopards have a noticeably shorter tail, its length is not more than 3/8 of the total size of the animal.
The eyes are yellow.
Its fangs are larger than other cats in proportion to body size, and this may be an adaptation to holding onto prey caught in trees, which is a more difficult feat than trapping prey on the ground.

Long fangs make it easy to kill caught prey, often only a single bite is needed. The structure of the teeth is similar to the fangs of prehistoric saber-toothed cats, which is why it is sometimes referred to as modern "saber-toothed": their upper fangs can reach 4.4 cm in length. Interestingly, the clouded leopard's jaws can also open wider than any other cat.
The clouded leopard is immediately recognizable by its characteristic coloration. The main color of the fur is light yellow to deep brown. The spots of unequal shape are dark brown or black, lighter in the middle, and the shadows around the spots are also light. The chest and belly are light or white with a few spots. Dark brown or black elongated spots on the neck and back. The ears are black, with a white spot in the middle. The tail is painted with non-closing black rings.
Body length 69-108 cm. Tail length: 75-90 cm (average 82 cm, while for males it is 81 - 108 cm (average 99 cm).
Weight: The mass of the animal is from 10 to 23 kg, sometimes up to 30 kg. Females weigh about 11 kg, while males weigh 18 - 20 kg (average 19 kg). Males can be more than twice the size of females, the largest size difference between the sexes in the cat family.
Lifespan: Clouded leopards live up to 20 years in captivity, lifespan in the wild is unknown.

Clouded leopards can roar very softly and quite quietly, as they differ physiologically from large cats, which can roar very loudly. Besides clouded leopard can purr.
The smoky leopard is a typical inhabitant of dense tropical forests, partly thickets of bushes and swamps, where it lives mainly on trees. Keeps in the depths of rain or arid forests located at altitudes up to 2500 meters above sea level.
The clouded leopard's natural enemies are larger cats. So, on the island of Borneo, perhaps due to the lack of tigers and leopards, their highest number is noted. Deforestation occurring due to commercial logging and the growth of human settlements poses a major threat to the leopard.
The clouded leopard is largely specialized in catching birds, but, in addition to them, it feeds on deer, monkeys, wild pigs, goats, porcupines, palm civet, and can attack young buffaloes and cattle. Sometimes they replenish their diet with reptiles, fish and other living creatures.
Leopards in captivity in a zoo are fed the food provided for by the diet of a carnivore, but in addition, they are necessarily given large bones of ungulates (knuckles with fingers) for chewing. At the zoo, they often get a special treat in the form of popsicles: pieces of papaya frozen in ice blocks!
It can hunt both day and night, tracking its game on the ground or overtaking it in a jump from a tree. In Sumatra (Indonesia), the clouded leopard, which lives in areas close to human habitation, is extremely cautious and therefore leads an exclusively nocturnal lifestyle. Leopards have good binocular vision and can see in light twilight about six times better than humans. At night, he deftly climbs and jumps through trees, with a long tail and wide feet helping him to balance and maintain balance. Sometimes he jumps on his prey from branches hanging above the ground, but often hunts right on the ground.
In search of prey, a leopard travels about 1-2 km per day. The clouded leopard swims well, swimming across large expanses of water and meeting on secluded islets, and, perhaps, in this way it populated small islands from Vietnam to the island of Borneo.
In Taiwan, interviews were conducted with eyewitnesses who saw a leopard in nature to find out their lifestyle. As a result, it turned out that 13 times the leopards were in the trees and 11 on the ground. Tracking a sub-adult male leopard using a radio collar in Nepal for 8 consecutive days showed only terrestrial behavior of the latter. The leopard often hunted and rested in the fields among dense thickets of vegetation 4-6 m high and tall grasses. In 1986, a survey of villagers, forestry workers, and forestry officials in Sabah and Sarawak, Malaysia, showed that in 82% of sightings of the leopard in the wild, it traveled on the ground, usually along roads and paths in primary or secondary forest. The team of researchers concluded that clouded leopards in this area were not true arboreal dwellers, but only used the trees in the forest as a daytime resting place.
At the same time, it should be noted that the clouded leopard is perfectly adapted to an arboreal lifestyle: a low center of gravity, large paws with sharp claws for gripping, a long tail for balancing; and the bone structure of its wrist and flexible ankle joints allow a leopard to wrap around a tree trunk or branch in motion in much the same way as a squirrel does. Observations have shown that the leopard can move along horizontal branches, hanging upside down like a sloth, and it can even hang upside down from the branches, holding on to them only with its hind legs.
Social Structure: Solitary except during the breeding season when males actively seek out females. Individual hunting areas, depending on the type of habitat and its food supply, can occupy an area of ​​29 sq. km to 45 sq. km or more in males, and about 22-26 sq. km - in females, while the neighboring areas of males and females can overlap from 30 to 47%.
Reproduction: Offspring are born in a hollow tree, there are 1-5 cubs in the litter, each weighing 140-170 grams, sometimes up to 280. Eyes open on 10-12 days. At birth, kittens are covered with yellowish-gray fur, adult spots appear in the first 6 months. They develop relatively slowly. Walking begins at about 19-20 days of age. Cubs are extremely active for the first five months after birth. At 10 and a half weeks, they switch to adult (meat) food, but for another 5 months they receive mother's milk. At 9 months, they are already independent from their mother and begin to lead an independent life.
Breeding leopards in captivity is very problematic and very difficult. This is due to the fact that males that are in the mating season in a limited area in captivity after mating become extremely aggressive and in almost 80% of cases attack females and kill them. Therefore, mating is successful in less than 20% of cases, while conception and successful breeding of offspring is observed even less often. But zoos around the world are trying to preserve the species' genetic diversity through captive breeding. In order to obtain viable offspring and overcome the aggressiveness of males, the joint cultivation of males and females from adolescence (up to 1 year) is now practiced.
Researchers in the UK believe that the main hope for successful breeding of leopards in captivity will be artificial insemination and embryo transfers to produce healthy offspring.
Season/breeding period: Nothing is known about the reproduction of the clouded leopard in nature, but in keeping conditions, breeding occurs in March-August.
Puberty: Leopards reach sexual maturity at 20 to 30 months of age.
Pregnancy: Pregnancy lasts 86-95 days, according to other sources it is delayed up to 109 days.
Offspring: 1-5 cubs (usually 2-3, and only rarely up to 5)
Human Benefit/Harm: Avoids humans. In the last half century, clouded leopards have become more frequent in zoos in Europe.
Because of the precious skin, the clouded leopard was hunted a lot in the past. For the manufacture of one full-length fur coat, up to 20-30 leopard skins are needed.
Today, the clouded leopard is threatened by poaching. This cat is hunted not only for its fur, but also for its teeth and bones, which are highly prized in the traditional Asian medicinal trade. In addition, clouded leopard dishes are on the menu of restaurants in China and Thailand that cater to wealthy Asian tourists.
The clouded leopard is only occasionally persecuted for killing livestock.
Population/Conservation Status: The clouded leopard is classified as an endangered species and therefore listed in the international Red Book. Of the four subspecies, the Taiwan clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa brachyurus) has already become extinct.
The entire clouded leopard population is estimated at less than 10,000 mature individuals.
The Lukai people of Thailand believe that the clouded leopard is their spiritual ancestor who brought them to their homeland.