Wildlife Alliance

Clouded Leopard (Neofelis nebulosa)

Status: Vulnerable

Habitat Range:

These big cats like lowland tropical rainforest, subtropical forests, secondary forests, dry woodlands, mangrove swamps and grasslands in Southern China, the eastern Himalayas, north-east India and Southeast Asia. It is already thought to be extinct in Taiwan. Their range once included most of Southeast Asia from Nepal and southern China through Thailand, Indonesia, and Borneo, but no longer as their numbers have been severely depleted.

Numbers Left in the Wild: Unknown due to its reclusive habits

Primary Threats: Poaching for their attractive pelts is the number one threat, which has ceremonial meaning in countries such as Taiwan. They are also highly sought after for their teeth and bones, which supplies the traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) trade. Deforestation and habitat destruction by humans also contributes to the dwindling numbers of these wild cats.

What we are doing to help:

Wildlife Alliance is working collaboratively with the Smithsonian Institution, Khao Yai National Park and Point Defiance Zoo to survey carnivores in Khao Yai. This initiative involves field monitoring, survey and ranger training to support both the Clouded Leopard Project and the Carnivore Conservation Project based in Khao Yai. Its primary goals are:

• Increase the wildlife monitoring technical capacity within the Dong Phayayen-Khao Yai forest complex
• Facilitate the establishment of a long-term monitoring program for carnivores
• Develop a carnivore monitoring database and reporting system that will assist protected areas in management of these population
• Using the carnivore monitoring project, further strengthen Khao Yai National Park 's function as a regional model for biodiversity monitoring, protection and management
  

Clouded leopards are being surveyed by our Bokor National park rangers to understand more about this reclusive creature. Camera traps have been an excellent source of data; allowing identification of rare or nocturnal species. For example, recently a camera trap photo was taken of a clouded leopard during nightfall.

Our South West Elephant Corridor works to protect this species habitat, while the Wildlife Rapid Rescue Team addresses the issue of illegal wildlife trade.

The Phnom Tamao Wildlife Rescue Center has also recently acquired a pair of Clouded leopards, which we hope to breed and potentially put through rehabilitation. If breeding is successful, we also hope to release some of the cubs back into the wild. This would be considered a groundbreaking project of debatable conservation value.