International Clouded Leopard Day - August 4

August 4 to raise global awareness for the conservation of these elusive, tree-climbing wild cats. Founded in 2018, the day highlights threats like deforestation and illegal wildlife trade, with worldwide conservation groups and zoos participating in educational and fundraising drives. 

Species Information:

Taxonomy 

1. Phylum: Chordata 
2. Class: Mammalia 
3. Order: Carnivora 
4. Family: Felidae 
5. Sub-family: Pantherinae 
6. Genus: Neofelis (Gray 1867) 
7. Species: Neofelis nebulosa (Griffith 1821)

The genus Neofelis was traditionally considered to be a monotypic genera with a single species Neofelis nebulosa, including four subspecies, N. n. diardi, N. n. macrosceloides, N. n. nebulosa, and N. n. brachyura.

Clouded leopards are medium-sized felid, with males weighing from 16 to 18 kg and females weighing between 11.5 to 13.5 kg. They have distinct cloud shaped patches on their pale-yellow to brown coloured fur that camouflages them in dense forests. An elongated long tail, large paws and flexible joints in their hind feet assists them in arboreal life. They are also unique in possessing the longest canine teeth in proportion to their size of all cats.

The preferred habitat of the species is dense evergreen forest; however they are also reported from other habitats, like, scrub, grassland, dry tropical forests, mangrove swamps, hill evergreen forest and mixed deciduous forests. 

Clouded leopards are predatory carnivores with a diverse prey base. 

Females have a mean gestation length of 89.2 days and the estrous cycle takes place for 24 days with estrous lasting for 6 days.

The range of clouded leopards extends from eastern and southern foothills of the Himalayas in Nepal , through Bhutan and India (Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim; Assam) south to Myanmar, southern China, Taiwan, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, peninsular Malaysia and Cambodia . 

Clouded leopard is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, with fewer than 10,000 mature adults remaining in the wild and populations continuing to decline.

Wildlife Institute of India (2018) National Studbook of Clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa) III Edition,Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun and Central Zoo Authority, New Delhi.TR.No.-2018/31 Pages: 37.