Latest news with #CloudedLeopards
Time of India
06-08-2025
- Science
- Time of India
Rare clouded leopard spotted in the wild: Viral video inside
Clouded leopards are among the most elusive big cats in Asia, which mostly remain hidden in mystery due to their secretive, nocturnal habits. Clouded leopards are one of nature's most mysterious big cats. With their beautifully patterned coats and secretive habits, these elusive animals are rarely seen in the wild. Mostly living high in the treetops of dense forests across Southeast Asia and Northeast India, they can be silently spotted at night and avoid human contact. Their quiet existence has kept them mostly out of sight, even from researchers and wildlife cameras. So it becomes a precious moment when one such animal is spotted in the wild. Viral video shows a clouded leopard mother and cubs in the jungle Susanta Nanda, a former Indian Forest Service officer, recently shared a video on the social media platform X that shows a clouded leopard mother with her cubs moving through the lush forests of Northeast India. He captioned the video as, 'Elusive. Ethereal. Endangered. With barely ~10,000 left in the wild & scattered sightings in NE India, the Clouded Leopard is our most secretive big cat. Here, a rare glimpse — a mother with her cubs, guardians of an ancient rainforest. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like No annual fees for life UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo A sight so rare that it's mythical'. This footage is exceptionally rare, taking into consideration how seldom clouded leopards are seen. Their secretive nature makes such wild encounters significant and fulfilling to conservationists. Clouded Leopards are vulnerable and fast vanishing Clouded leopards are officially listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, with fewer than 10,000 mature individuals remaining globally. Smaller populations are scattered across Northeast India, the Himalayan foothills, Southeast Asia, and southern China. They are known for their beautiful cloud-patterned fur, exceptional tree-climbing abilities, and long canine teeth, which are also the largest in proportion to body size among all cats. These cats face significant threats from habitat loss, poaching, and human‑wildlife conflict. In Northeast India alone, forest fragmentation and illegal wildlife trade are contributing to their decline. What are the efforts taken by experts to protect them According to a study named, Forecasting Suitable Habitats of the Clouded Leopard (Neofelis nebulosa) in Asia: Insights into the Present and Future Climate Projections Within and Beyond Extant Boundaries, experts have advised the need for strategic conservation actions, including establishing protected areas and creating transboundary wildlife corridors to reconnect fragmented habitats and maintain genetic diversity among populations. A new roadmap identifies 18 critical corridors across the clouded leopard's range. This study also tells that clouded leopards often coexist with larger predators by adjusting their activity patterns and using arboreal spaces effectively playing hide-and-seek to avoid direct encounters. In Manas National Park, Assam, researchers found a density of about 1.73 individuals per 100 km², revealing their preference for dense, canopy-rich forests.
Yahoo
13-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Nashville Zoo's new adorable leopard cub needs a name. How to enter the zoo's naming contest
The Nashville Zoo recently welcomed a rare arrival — a female, clouded leopard cub. The cub was born on Feb. 25 and currently weighs the size of a small baguette, said the zoo. The cub measures about 13-inches-long from her nose to the tip of her tail. The adorable, spotted cub is the third litter for mated pair Niran (female) and Ron (male) and is the fourth female cub to be born to Niran. Guests can view the cub at the Zoo's HCA Healthcare Veterinary Center. "We are thrilled to see the success of natural breeding between Niran and Ron," said Nashville Zoo's Director of Veterinary Services Heather Schwartz. "The birth of this new clouded leopard cub is a huge accomplishment in our conservation efforts for the species and a testament to the work we have been doing with Clouded Leopards the last 34 years." The cub's arrival marks the first clouded leopard cub birth in an AZA (Association of Zoos and Aquariums) Accredited Zoo this year, thus making survivability critical, said the zoo. Guests of the Nashville Zoo can support conservation efforts by taking part in the zoo's naming contest. People are able to vote on: Lara, in honor of the TV personality who announced the cub's birth nationwide Tashi, a Tibetan name meaning good fortune Mi, a Vietnamese name meaning noodles. To double conservation efforts, the zoo will be matching all donations dollar for dollar. The winning name will be the one that raises the most money. Voting is now open, here's how to participate: Visit the zoo's website and click the 'Vote Now' Button Enter the amount you'd like to contribute ($1 = 1 vote) Place order, then choose your favorite name Submit and complete checkout per normal Voting will close on Saturday, April 12 at 10 p.m. local time and the winning name will be announced on Sunday, April 13. Diana Leyva covers trending news and service journalism for The Tennessean. Contact her at Dleyva@ or follow her on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, at @_leyvadiana This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Nashville Zoo's new leopard cub needs a name, how you can help
Yahoo
11-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Nashville Zoo welcomes new clouded leopard cub
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — The Nashville Zoo is celebrating another new addition in the form of a baby clouded leopard. The zoo announced a female cub was born the evening of Feb. 25, and is currently 'about the size of a small baguette,' weighing in around 244 grams and measuring about 13 inches long from nose to tip of tail. The birth marks the 44th clouded leopard born at Nashville Zoo since 1991 and is the first cub to be born at a zoo accredited by The Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) this year. | READ MORE | According to the Zoo, the new cub is the third litter for the mated pair of Niran and Ron and is the fourth female cub to be born to Niran. Since this is the first and only clouded leopard cub born in an AZA-accredited Zoo this year, the cub's survivability is 'critical.' Aligning with the AZA Species Survival Plan's recommendation, Zoo staff have elected to hand-rear the cub. Guests can now view the cub at the Zoo's HCA Healthcare Veterinary Center. A naming contest will be announced in full detail for the cub on Thursday, according to the Zoo. 'We are thrilled to see the success of natural breeding between Niran and Ron,' said Nashville Zoo Director of Veterinary Services Heather Schwartz. 'The birth of this new clouded leopard cub is a huge accomplishment in our conservation efforts for the species and a testament to the work we have been doing with Clouded Leopards the last 34 years.' 📧 Have breaking news come to you: → According to the Zoo, the AZA has 64 clouded leopards in its collection, with Nashville Zoo housing 15 of them. The success of the Zoo's clouded leopard breeding program is due in part to hand-rearing them. This technique prevents parental predation or neglect—which is common for clouded leopards—reduces the cub's stress, and allows this normally nervous species to become acclimated to the sights and sounds of human interaction typical in an exhibit environment, according to the zoo. Hand-raising also allows the Zoo to pair cubs at an early age, according to Zoo officials. The Zoo's research with breeding clouded leopards has revealed that pairing at an early age significantly reduces aggression and allows for more successful breeding pairs. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
