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Clouded Leopard Population
The importance of focusing on the clouded leopard population is highlighted by these gorgeous cubs.
As the forests are mercilessly exploited in Asia, so is the clouded
leopard for its glorious coat. As the virgin tropical rain forest is
cut down the population of the clouded leopard is rapidly diminishing as this
is a forest dwelling cat of great beauty. There are two species of
clouded leopard: Neofelis nebulosa (Clouded Leopard) and Neofelis diardi (Sunda Clouded Leopard). There are two types of place where the clouded leopard lives: the wild and in captivity.
Neofelis nebulosa (Clouded Leopard)
In the wild
The primary source for an assessment of the population of the clouded leopard, the IUCN Red List of Threatened Specices™ (the Red List) does not provide a figure for Neofelis nebulosa!
We don't know. We can speculate, no more. The Red List does say more
work needs to be done to work out a figure for the population using
camera traps and further research efforts.
It should be noted, however, that historically, estimates of wildcat
populations have been well out, usually on the optimisitic side (too
high). While we are killing the wildcats we still have a lot to learn
about them. Perhaps they will become extinct before we have completed
our research?
What do other sources tell us about the clouded leopard population? We
can't really rely on books because any estimates that they might
contain become fairly rapidly outdated as the populations decline year
on year.
The best book on wild cats, Wild Cats Of The World
by Mel and Fiona Sunquist, published 2002 (sometimes quoted by the Red
List) say that, "little is known about the clouded leopard's status in
any part of its geographic range..."
The authors go on to explain how this cat hae been exploited
commercially and perescuted. Trade is skins and deforestation are the
main threats.
There are other sources. Wikipedia says, "The International Union for
Conservation of Nature estimates that fewer than 10,000 mature
individuals exist". I didn't see that figure on the IUCN website and in
any case it will be lower now!
Another source says, it is below 10,000 mature breeding cats (src:http://www.animalinfo.org). This figure probably comes from the same source as the Wikipedia article.
In captivity
Wild Cat Of The World
says that this cat is "reasonable well represented in zoos" - 224 being
held in 79 institutions worldwide. There were 86 in North American zoos
(at 2002). This cat doesn't breed well in zoos.
Because of the low and diminishing population it is classified by the Red List as Vulnerable:
Neofelis diardi (Sunda Clouded Leopard)
This
wildcat lives on the islands of Borneo and Sumatra. The map below shows
Borneo and the marker shows the Sabah region, one of the areas where
this species of wild cat lives. In this region the Red List estimates
that there are 1,500-3,200 individuals maximum (probably overestimate)
at Dec. 2010.
View Larger Map
The Red List has no population estimates for other areas of the Sunda clouded leopard range.
In Sumatra it is estimated that the population density is 29 adults per 100 km², from camera
traps. It is speculated that the clouded leopard population in Sumatra is a lot lower than in Borneo.
The Sunda clouded leopard is also classified as Vulnerable by the Red List.
Clouded leopard population to Clouded leopard
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