clouded leopards - biology & behavoir
The clouded leopard is a tree dweller, and has a squirrel-like agility like the Margay of South America. In captivity, the clouded
leopard routinely hangs by its hind legs using its long tail for balance and runs head-first down tree trunks. Little is known about its
behaviour in the wild, but it is assumed that it is highly arboreal and that a favored hunting tactic is to drop on prey from the trees.
The habits and behaviour of the clouded leopard in the wild are virtually unknown to man because of the animal's secretive nature. These
felines are solitary animals. With a lack of evidence for a pack- or pride-society like that of the lion, it is assumed that it is a generally
solitary creature. Certainly it interacts with other clouded leopards while engaged in activities relating to mating and rearing young.
While it was once assumed that the clouded Leopard was active only at night, the cat has now been observed during the day.
hunting & diet
Like all cats, the clouded leopard is a carnivore. Its prey includes the sambar and muntjac deer, birds, bearded pigs, civet, monkeys, gibbons, squirrels, porcupines, fish, domestic cattle and chicken. Clouded Leopards that are held in captivity also eat eggs and some vegetation.
reproduction
Females give birth to a litter of 1 to 5 cubs after a gestation period of about 85 to 93 days. Initially, the young are blind and helpless,
much like the young of many other cats. Unlike adults, the kittens' spots are "solid" - completely dark rather than dark rings. The young can
see within about 10 days of birth, are active within 5 weeks, and probably become independent at about 10 months of age. The Clouded Leopard
reaches sexual maturity at two years of age and females are able to bear one litter each year. Adults in captivity have lived as long as 17
years: in the wild, they have an average 11 year lifespan. This gives hope that the Clouded Leopard will be able to increase its numbers with
careful management.
Despite these facts, captive breeding programs met with little success in their early stages, largely because the females were frequently
killed by aggressive males; largely due to ignorance of courtship activity among these cats in the wild. Normally, the Clouded Leopard is
not aggressive. Experience has taught keepers that carefully selected pairs of clouded leopards introduced and given opportunities to bond
often breed successfully.
Carefully regulated introductions between prospective mating pairs and breeding programmes that take into account the requirements for enriched
enclosures with adequate space to permit climbing, provide and stimulate natural behaviour, remove sources of exposure and minimise stress
combined with a feeding programme that fulfills the proper dietary requirements have proven more successful in recent years. Cats born in
captivity may one day supplement and bolster threatened populations in the wild.
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