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