A Review of our Current Knowledge of Clouded Leopards (Neofelis nebulosa)

Abstract

The global population of clouded leopards (Neofelis nebulosa) is considered vulnerable worldwide [1], and were considered to be less abundant globally the 2016 assessment by the IUCN than the previous assessment in 2007 [1]. Clouded leopards currently range from the southeastern Himalayas across southeastern Asia, extending through southern China and into peninsular Malaysia [2-6] (Figure 1). They have been extirpated from Taiwan [7], and possibly from Bangladesh [1]. Clouded leopards are protected in most countries across their range [1], but a large reason for population declines is unregulated hunting for pelts [1,8], as well as habitat fragmentation and regional declines in habitat quality [1].Clouded leopards may be expanding their range recently in the southeastern Himalayas. Clouded leopards were historically found in Nepal [9], but were thought to have become extinct in the last century. They were rediscovered in the 1980's [5], and have now been documented as far west as Annapurna in central Nepal [10]. Similarly, clouded leopards were historically found in India and may have been common [11]. They are now much less common, and were documented for the first time in decades in the northeastern state of Mizoram [12], and were also detected during multiple surveys during recent decades in the northeastern state of Arunachal Pradesh [13,14], and Assam [15]. Future studies to document and confirm the global and local ranges of clouded leopards are important in order to set realistic and appropriate conservation goals. It is possible that the range is both expanding and contracting in different areas, making local conservation needs potentially different than those for the species as a whole. The expansions of the ranges of clouded leopards in the past few decades in Nepal and India [5,10,[12][13][14], are encouraging. Although reintroductions are often difficult, because clouded leopards are naturally recolonizing areas it is possible that reintroduction efforts could also be successful. The causes of the original extirpation in the area need to be addressed and the long-term viability of the population considered before any reintroductions efforts begin.

Whole genome analysis of clouded leopard species reveals an ancient divergence and distinct demographic histories

“…However, clouded leopards appear to predominantly inhabit primary and secondary evergreen tropical rainforests but have also been found in other habitats such as mangrove swamps. 15,16 Like other felids, clouded leopards are hypercarnivorous, hunting a variety of terrestrial and arboreal vertebrate prey and possessing a dentition fitting such a diet, including the longest canines relative to body size among all extant felids. With long tails, broad feet and short legs that position their bodies with a low center of gravity, clouded leopards are excellent climbers, and are thought to use trees primarily as resting sites.…”

Possible Male Infanticide in Wild Orangutans and a Re-evaluation of Infanticide Risk

“…He also attributes these deaths to one individual clouded leopard that had discovered the vulnerability of these rehabilitant juveniles at the feeding station. We could find no other reports of attempted or successful clouded leopard attacks on orangutans 73,76–78,85,86 .…”

“…The largest feline predator in Borneo is the clouded leopard ( Neofelis diardi borneensis ) 74 . Clouded leopards are medium-sized felids, ranging from 11 to 23 kg in weight 75,76 , that typically prey on small animals, such as juvenile bearded pigs, small deer, pangolins, monkeys and squirrels. Clouded leopards, like most cats, kill by stalking their prey, and jumping on them from behind 73,77 .…”

Oleps’ Traditional Beliefs of the Clouded Leopard the Top Predator of Bhutan

“…The clouded leopard is classified as vulnerable and decreasing on the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, and its continued survival is threatened by habitat destruction and illegal hunting (Gray et al, 2015). There is limited knowledge about its basic ecology and conservation status across its vast range (Figure 1), which includes Bhutan, Cambodia, India, Lao People"s Democratic Republic, Peninsular Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, and Thailand, with isolated populations close to extirpation in Bangladesh, China, and Vietnam (Chiang & Allen, 2017). Clouded leopards are distributed in varied landscapes in Bhutan, including protected areas (national parks and biological corridors) and places with large human populations (Penjor, Macdonald, Wangchuk, Tandin, & Tan, 2018;Letro & Duba, 2019).…”