(Neofelis nebulosa) 

Size (Males are larger)

Male

Body length – 81 to 108 cm       Tail length – 74 to 91 cm       Weight 16 kg

Females

Body length from 68.6 to 94 cm       Tail length  61 to 82 cm       Weight 16 kg

  • It is a medium-sized wild cat, midway between big cats and small cats
  • Coat look like clouds
  • It is the State animal of Meghalaya
  • Occur from the Himalayan foothills through mainland Southeast Asia into southern China.
  • 2 distinct sub species are found   – Neofelis nebulosa (Mainland Leopard), Neofelis diardi (Sunda Clouded Leopard- Borneo, Indonesia)                                                                                                                         
  • It has short limbs compared to the other big cats. Hind limbs are longer than its front limbs to allow for increased jumping and leaping capabilities.
  • Its paws are very large, also the ulnae and radii bones are not fused, which also contributes to a greater range of motion when climbing trees and stalking prey.
  • It has exceptionally long Canine teeth, upper pair of canines measure 4 cm or longer.
  • Often referred to as a “modern-day sabre-tooth” because it has the largest canines in proportion to its body size with a wide gape mouth.
  • It is a Solitary cat and nocturnal inhabitant of dense primary forest.
  • While on hunt it adopts stalk and chase from tree to tree
  • Preys on slow loris, porcupine, hog deer, pangolin
  • Both males and females average 26 months at first reproduction.
  • During sexual encounters, males tend to bite the female on the neck during courtship, which occasionally kills the female
  • Gestation period of 93 ± 6 days
  • Litter size – 1 – 5, mostly 3 cubs
  • Weaning period – around 3 months
  • In 2008 IUCN  has enlisted clouded leopard as  Vulnerable
  • Total population is fewer than 10,000 mature individuals
  • It is poached for – fur, bones and claws and pet trade
  • International Clouded Leopard Day is celebrated each year on 4 August since 2018. Zoos and conservation organisations all over the world celebrate this day.