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