OT Staff
There are two species of clouded leopards: the clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa) and the Sunda clouded leopard (Neofelis diardi). Both are separate species of wild cat and are not part of the leopard family.
The clouded leopard is named after the distinctive "clouds" on its coat. Its spots are partially edged in black, with the insides a darker colour than the background colour of the pelt.
The clouded leopard is found in Nepal, Bangladesh and Assam, from Indochina to Sumatra and Borneo, and northeastward to southern China. They prefer to live in lowland tropical rainforests.
Like all wild cats, clouded leopards are carnivores. Their chief prey are gibbons, macaques, slow loris, small deer, and wild boars, which they ambush from the trees or stalk from the ground.
Due to a different bone structure in their neck, the clouded leopard cannot roar like larger cats and cannot purr because they lack the bone that allows small cats this ability.
Clouded leopards live solitary lives with the exception of mothers and their cubs. The average life span of the clouded leopard is 12 to 15 years in the wild.
The clouded leopard is the state animal of Meghalaya and can be found across the state, particularly in undisturbed stretches of forests.
Both clouded leopard species are classified as “Vulnerable” by The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. The greatest threats are habitat loss due to deforestation and illegal poaching.