Scientific Name:
Neofelis nebulosa
Distribution
Himalayan foothills through mainland SE Asia into China.
Diet:
Carnivore. Birds and mammals such as monkeys, deer and rodents, occasionally also livestock such as goats and chickens.
Facts
Habitat: Evergreen tropical rainforest, dry woodlands, grasslands, mangrove swamps.
Gestation: 88-95 days, 1-5 bubs
Social structure: Solitary
Weight: 11-23kg
Dimensions: 68 -106cm
Lifespan: 11 in the wild, up to 17 under human care
Estimated population in the wild: Unknown / Decreasing
IUCN Status: Vulnerable
Threats: Habitat loss due to deforestation, hunting for the illegal wildlife trade (for its skin, bones for medicines, meat for exotic dishes and for the pet trade).
Did you know that:
Its name derives from the distinct 'cloud-like' spots on its coat that provide camouflage.
It is an excellent climber and one of the few cats which can climb headfirst down a vertical trunk and hang from branches by their hind feet. It uses the trees to rest, but it likely also forages in them.
The clouded leopard has the longest upper canines in proportion to its skull, amongst all extant feline.