The clouded leopard is a vulnerable species of leopard that needs our help.
The clouded leopard lives in tropical rainforests scattered across Asia and Africa.
These great cats have adapted to their surroundings in many ways. Their paws are wide, good for stalking unseen. Sharp claws help them hunt and climb like the experts they are. They have also adapted their fur - the dapples blend in perfectly with the background.
Clouded leopards hunt monkeys, birds, small rodents, and anything else it can find in the canopy of the rainforest that a consumer, and a carnivore, would find tasty. They do not migrate to find food.
The great hunter stalks it's prey through the grass,
intent on a catch. Yum - yum!
The clouded leopard has few enemies, but the cubs can be prey for
snakes and other hungry wildcats.
Did You Know ?
- The clouded leopard is mostly nocturnal.
- Clouded leopards climb like monkeys, and have even been seen hanging upside down from trees by their back paws!
- Clouded leopards have the biggest teeth proportional to their size of all cats - they are direct descendants of saber - toothed tigers.
- These leopards swim very well.
- Clouded leopards are very solitary and hide extremely well by blending into their background. Almost everything known about them was gathered from cats bred in captivity.
The clouded leopard is a vulnerable species. The total number of mature remaining individuals is lower than 10,000. The cause of this is mainly deforestation and poaching. Rainforests are being cut down for more space, and for lumber. This is threatening the existence of the clouded leopards. Also, the hunting of clouded leopards for their teeth , bones, and fur has decreased their numbers. It was made illegal by the government, but some people hunted them anyway.
Clouded leopards are hunted for their amazing, super-long, super-sharp teeth.
To help them make a comeback, scientists are breeding clouded leopards in captivity at zoos and other wildlife rescue centers.
Wildlife rescuers and clouded leopard experts teach young cubs to hunt, fight, climb, and fend for themselves before releasing them into the wild. They tag the clouded leopards so they can watch their progress.
In fact, people all across the world are giving their efforts to help these leopards. Rick Schwartz, president of Nashville Zoo in North Carolina states, "Since 2009, 20 leopards have been born at Nashville Zoo, and in the last year Nashville Zoo welcomed the births of more clouded leopards than all the rest of the world's zoos combined."
RESOURCES -
www.arkive.org
www.zooborns.com/zooborns/2013/05/its-two-more-clouded-leopard-cubs-for-Nashville-Zoo.html
www.arkive.org
www.zooborns.com/zooborns/2013/05/its-two-more-clouded-leopard-cubs-for-Nashville-Zoo.html
Webpage created by Annika T.