Clouded leopards are found in parts of Asia including Nepal, Southern China, Thailand, Indonesia, and Borneo. They prefer dense lowland rainforests and mangrove forests at altitudes around 2000 feet and temperatures from 65 to 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Clouded leopards are solitary and endangered due to habitat loss from deforestation and poaching. Conservation efforts include banning trade and hunting in many countries and captive breeding programs in zoos.

1. NEOFELIS NEBULOSA The Clouded Leopard

3. They are found in Nepal, Southern China, Thailand, Indonesia, and Borneo.

5. They are sometimes also found in Mangrove forests and grasslands.

6. They are typically found at altitudes of about 2000 ft

8. These spots tend to be more solid around the paws, tail, and face.

9. These leopards are the smallest member of the “Big Cat” classification. Males Females Torso Length 2.7’-3.6’ 2.25’-3’ Weight 40-51 lbs 33-40 lbs Shoulder 9-16” 9-16” height

11. They have large strong paws

12. They have sharp claws

13. They have flexible ankle joints

15. Clouded leopard’s canine teeth are proportionally the longest of any large cat.

16. Their teeth are the same size as those of a tiger even though the Clouded is much smaller

17. Their teeth suggest that they are the only cat living today with a direct lineage to the saber toothed cat. Saber Toothed Cat Skull

19. Although they sleep in the trees they spend most of their waking hour on the ground

20. These leopards are solitary animals, and very elusive

22. Although they do not purr they have a wide range of vocalizations

23. They are carnivores and hunt for prey which includes birds, gibbons, squirrels, monkeys, deer, porcupines, and wild boars.

25. Deforestation is the biggest threat to the leopards

27. Clouded leopards are raised in captivity to help increase the populations

28. Some cubs are taken from their mothers for protection and are hand raised

29. Clouded leopards are considered “Big Cats” which means it is illegal to keep them as pets.

30. Licenses are available for people to raise big cats when they are properly trained, have an enclosure that meets specific requirements, and have qualified veterinary assistance.

32. Their solitary nature causes them to attack other leopards they encounter, including possible mates, so breeding is not as common as we would like

33. Gestation is 85-93 days

34. Females give birth to litters of two to four cubs

35. Clouded leopards can give birth to one litter a year

36. Cubs are born blind and defenseless

37. The cubs spots are filled in when they are born and fade into the adult pattern around the age of six months

39. Only 7 leopards have ever been radio collared. They were in Thailand and Nepal

40. Trade of animals, their parts, or products made from their parts in prohibited in the United States

41. Hunting is banned in Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Myanmar, Malaysia, Nepal, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam

42. Hunting regulations are in place in Lao

44. San Diego Zoo

45. Brandywine Zoo

46. Smithsonian National Zoological Park

47. Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens

48. Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo

49. Miami Metrozoo

50. Central Florida Zoological Park

51. Zoo Atlanta

52. Chicago Zoological Park

53. Mesker Park Zoo

54. Alexandria Zoological Park

55. Audubon Center for Research of Endangered Species

56. Minnesota Zoological Garden

58. Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden

59. Cleveland MetroparksZoo

60. Columbus Zoo and Aquarium

61. Philadelphia Zoological Garden

62. Memphis Zoological Garden & Aquarium

63. Nashville Zoo at Grassmere

64. The Houston Zoo

65. Ellen Trout Zoo

66. San Antonio Zoological Gardens & Aquarium

67. Woodland Park Zoological Gardens

68. Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium

69. Toronto ZooZoos Continued…

70. References http://search.creativecommons.org/?q=giraffe&engine=flickr%20%207-13# searched “clouded leopard” pictures on slides 1,2,5,6,7,8,9,12,13,14 http://search.creativecommons.org/?q=giraffe&engine=flickr%20%207-13# searched “Southeast Asia forest” picture on slide 3 http://search.creativecommons.org/?q=giraffe&engine=flickr%20%207-13# searched “deforestation” picture on slide 9 http://search.creativecommons.org/?q=giraffe&engine=flickr%20%207-13# searched “Saber toothed cat” http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Clouded_Leopard picture on slide 4 Burnie, D., Wilson, D. (2001). The Smithsonian Institute. Animal, the definitive visual guide to the worlds wild life. U.S.: Dk publishing. Christiansen, Per. (2008) "Evolutionary changes in craniomandibular shape in the great cats (Neofelis Griffith and PantheraOken)." Biological Journal of theLinneanSociety, 95.4 766+ Clouded leopard project, 2003-2008. About the Clouded Leopard, retrieved February 13th2010, from http://www.cloudedleopard.org/default.aspx?link=about_main Clouded Leopards, retrieved February 13th 2010, from http://www.panda.org/ what_we_do/endangered_species/clouded_leopard/ Meiri, Shai, and Georgina M. Mace. (2007) "New taxonomy and the origin of species." PI o S Biology, 5.7 1385+