| Bornean Clouded Leopard has lived on the islands | | | | rain forests of Borneo. The agile body, short legs, |
| of Borneo and Sumatra for hundreds of | | | | large paws, sharp claws and great climbing ability |
| thousands of years and yet was only recently | | | | enable it to reside and stalk high on trees and |
| recognized as a separate species. Called 'Neofelis | | | | take down a variety of prey using its great |
| Diardi' the cat is now believed to be different | | | | stealth and hunting apparatus. Deer, monkeys and |
| from the mainland clouded leopard 'Neofelis | | | | pigs - the usual prey - are killed by a single bite |
| Nebulosa'. The difference was established after a | | | | from those great teeth, and despite its short |
| detailed chromosomal analysis whereby enough | | | | stocky physique (weight nearly fifty to sixty |
| contrast was found with the clouded leopard to | | | | pounds, length around three feet excluding tail) |
| stop considering it as its subspecies. In fact the | | | | larger prey is frequently taken without hesitation. |
| extent of genetic variation was similar to what is | | | | As with every other big cat in nature, man-made |
| found in DNA of other big cats. | | | | threats continue to push it against the wall in its |
| To a keen eye the difference is easily appreciable | | | | fight for existence in the wild. In the case of |
| in even the coats of the two cats. The Bornean | | | | Bornean Clouded Leopard, these include mainly |
| Clouded Leopard has a coat that is darker, with a | | | | habitat destruction by logging and new rubber and |
| double dorsal spine, and smaller cloud markings | | | | palm oil plantations. Recently however, the three |
| with numerous distinct spots within them, than | | | | governments controlling Borneo (Brunei, Indonesia |
| the mainland Clouded Leopard. It is the largest | | | | and Malaysia) met and drafted a landmark |
| predator on the island of Borneo, the third largest | | | | conservation agreement to protect the heartland |
| island in the world, and its two inch canines are | | | | of Borneo and designate it for conservation and |
| second only to the saber toothed tiger in feline | | | | sustenance of the diverse fauna and flora of one |
| history. | | | | of the last remaining heavens on earth - raising |
| Little is known about the behavior and lifestyle of | | | | hope for one of the most beautiful cats of them |
| this secretive animal that resides deep within the | | | | all! |