Clouded Leopard | The clouded leopard is a medium-sized feline native
to the thick, tropical jungles of south-east Asia. The clouded leopard
has very distinctive markings on it's fur that look more like large
patches compared to the spots of the African leopard. The markings of the clouded leopard are said to look like clouds, hence it's name. The clouded leopard has many distinctive features along with it's beautiful
markings. The clouded leopard is known to have the longest canine teeth
of all the smaller sized felines and the teeth of the clouded leopard are the same length as the teeth of the tiger at around 2 inches long.
The clouded leopard also
has a remarkably long tail for it's size, as the tail of the clouded
leopard can be the same length as the body of the clouded leopard. The
clouded leopard uses it's long tail to help it balance when moving in
the trees and running at fast speeds on the ground. Clouded leopards
inhabit the dense jungles in south-east Asia and so are naturally quite
adept at climbing. Clouded leopards can often be seen resting in
the trees where they remain out of the way from potential predators and
also have a look out point from where the clouded leopard is able to
spot oncoming prey.
There are two main species of clouded leopard, one that is found inhabiting the forests
of China, Myanmar (Burma) and Nepal (it was also once found in Taiwan
but is now extinct there). The other species of clouded leopard known as
the Bornean clouded leopard, is found on the islands of Borneo and
Sumatra along with a few smaller islands in the Indonesian archipelago.
As with other species of large, wild cat, the clouded leopard is a carnivorous animal, surviving on a purely meat based diet.
Clouded leopards hunt monkeys, birds, goats, cattle, buffalo, pigs and
deer in the jungle and often venture in the cultivated farmland areas if
food in the jungle is scarce.
Due to the speed and size of the clouded leopard,
the clouded leopard has very few natural predators in it's environment.
The main predators of the clouded leopard are the tiger and the
leopard, to which the clouded leopard is not closely related (despite
it's name). Humans are the main predators of the clouded leopard as they
hunt them fur their fur and also destroy the forest habitat in which
the clouded leopard lives. Clouded leopards are very reclusive animals
and are therefore rarely seen by adventures in the wild. The clouded
leopard will remain out of sight to prevent itself from being seen and
hunted. Clouded leopards are very solitary animals and only come together to mate.
After a gestation period of roughly 3 months, the female clouded leopard gives birth to between 3 and 5 clouded leopard babies, known as cubs or kittens.
When the clouded leopard cubs are first born they are blind and one
colour as their spots are joined together. The clouded leopard cubs can
usually see within the first 2 weeks and develop their spots when they
are older. The clouded leopard cubs are able to move around and start hunting with the mother clouded leopard when they are about 6 weeks old and usually become independent when they are 10 months of age.
Today, the clouded leopard is a species that is said to be vulnerable to extinction, due to hunting but more likely severe habitat loss. The forests
in which the clouded leopard lives are being destroyed for both logging
and also to make way for palm oil plantations. The clouded population
numbers are severely declining and clouded leopards have been completely
wiped out in some places and are therefore extinct in these regions.
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