The clouded leopard is vulnerable of becoming extinct due to poaching and habitat destruction.  The beautiful coat of the clouded leopard is very unusual and some people believe the coat and their teeth have special powers to heal.  Therefore, some people still hunt the animal even though it is illegal.  

The clouded leopard is protected and it is illegal to sell or possess the pelt, teeth, paws, or other parts of the clouded leopards.  If you attempt to bring some part of a clouded leopard into the United States, you will be arrested for violating the United States Endangered Species Act. If you are found guilty, you will be fined not more than $50,000 or imprisoned for not more than one year, or both.  

Your help is needed to save the clouded leopard from extinction.  Everyone can help save the clouded leopard by:

1- Learn about the clouded leopard and spread the word to your family and friends about the need to save this beautiful creature. You can be an advocate for the clouded leopard by speaking up for their conservation at community events.

2- Adopt a Clouded Leopard!  Although you may not be able to pet your sponsored leopard, the money you contribute to support the symbolic adoption will help further research, protect habitat. and fund conservation activities.  Adopt a clouded leopard at: 

• The Defenders of Wildlife has several options dependent upon your ability to assist. You can adopt a cloud leopard for $15, $45, or $60.
• The Clouded Leopard Project has several options, such as, the Clouded Leopard Protector ($50), the Clouded Leopard Crusader ($100), the Clouded Leopard Conservator ($150), and the Clouded Leopard Adoption package for $250. If you have the funds, a $500 donation will support a camera trap to record the behaviors of cloud leopards in the wild. The Clouded Leopard Project welcomes contributions of any amount and provides information regarding fundraising events to help save the clouded leopard. Other alternative options include donating goods and services, purchasing through their website link to Amazon.com they will contribute 5% of the total sale to the Clouded Leopard Project. 

Palm oil plantations are a common threat to the rainforest habitat of the clouded leopard. As the demand increases for Palm Oil, the threats to the existing lands only increases.  If you will take the time to examine the label of the palm oil container you can ensure that you only purchase certified palm oil. Many of the food products that we eat are made with Palm Oil.  

The following products are made with Certified Sustainable Palm Oil: 

• 3 Musketeers
• Almond Joy
• Butterfingers
• Cadbury
• Carr's Cookies
• Coffee Mate
• Crystal Light
• Doritos
• Egg Beaters
• Hershey's 
• Hunt's
• Koolaid
• Milky Way
• Nestle Products
• Pam Spray
• Twizzlers
• Whoppers

The full list of food brand names of companies that use Certified Sustainable Palm Oil can be obtained by visiting the Point Defiance Zoo website.

The beautiful eyes of the clouded leopard help the big cat to hunt at night.  Their eyes are different from any other wild cat's eyes.  The pupil of the clouded leopard do not get as round as other big cats. Neither do the clouded leopard's pupil shrink to narrow vertical slits that other big cats.  

The clouded leopard is a good swimmer and it is believed that this is how the clouded leopard reached small islands in Vietnam and Borneo.  

The Clouded Leopard is rarely seen in the wild, so much of what we know of these beautiful creatures is based on those that live in zoos.  The video above featured two young cubs at the San Diego Zoo.  Did you learn some new facts about the clouded leopard? 

Why does the Clouded Leopard have a long, thick tail? 

Because it helps them to maintain their balance as they climb trees and jump from one branch to another.  Their tail is as long as their body, so if the Clouded Leopard is 3 feet long then their tail is also 3 feet long.  They are not the largest cat species, but they are not the smallest wild cat. They are unique because they can meow like a small cat species and they can growl like a large cat.   

Here are a few more quick facts about this amazing creature when they are full grown:

• Height: 10-16 inches at shoulders.
• Length: 2-3 feet ( plus their tail also measures 2-3 feet).
• Weight: Males average 45-60 lbs; females average 25-30 lbs. This is the greatest difference between male and female weight among the wild cats.
• Lifespan: We do not know how long Clouded Leopards live in the wild, but we think they can live 11 years.  We know that Clouded Leopards in captivity have lived up to 19 years. 
  

The Clouded Leopard (Neofelis nebulosa) is found in southeastern Asia, specifically from the Himalayan mountains of Nepal, southern China, and Taiwan to Malaysia. In 2006, scientists determined that the Clouded Leopards living on the islands of Sumatra and Borneo are a distinct species, Neofelis diardi. Map published under Wikimedia® creative commons license license. 

What do you know about this beautiful creature?

How did the clouded leopard get its name?  Does it live among the clouds?

How big is a clouded leopard? Is it larger than your average house cat?

Where will you find this big cat? 

What does a cloud leopard like to eat?  

Why is it in danger of being extinct? What can we do to save the clouded leopard?

We will explore all of these questions as we review how you can help save the clouded leopard.  

Although the clouded leopard loves to climb trees, the clouded leopard gets its name from the cloud shaped markings on its beautiful coat or pelt. The shapes of the clouds change sizes and shapes.  The black clouds float on a tawny colored fur. Their fur may have areas of silver gray. If you look at the back of their neck you will see dark bars marking their fur.  The clouded leopard has a long, thick tail with black rings. The tail is very important to this cat as it helps them to keep their balance as they move among the trees. Notice those beautiful eyes.  Their eyes help the clouded leopard estimate distances when they jump from branch to branch.  


Check back for further information all month.