Table of Contents
When did the clouded leopard go extinct?
2013
The Formosan clouded leopard was declared extinct in 2013, though the last official sighting occurred in 1983.
Why did the clouded leopard become extinct?
Their decline was caused by habitat destruction and overhunting for their skins, say IUCN scientists. Clouded leopards prefer to live in closed, primary evergreen tropical rainforests in Southeast Area, a habitat that is experiencing the world’s fastest deforestation.
Are Clouded leopards extinct 2020?
DNA shows leopard species not (yet) extinct. The clouded leopard, scientific name Neofelis nebulosa, is a wild cat found in the foothills of the Himalayan mountains through Southeast Asia into southern China.
Do clouded leopards exist?
Clouded leopards dwell in the cloud forests of Southeast Asia and are one of the most ancient cat species. However, they are neither a true great cat nor a true small cat, because they cannot roar or purr. Poaching and habitat loss threaten this vulnerable species.
Is it illegal to own a leopard?
Make sure you can legally own a pet leopard. Currently, 19 out of 50 states have a ban on exotic animals as pets, including the leopard. If your state does not have a ban, you will need to check with the town for regulations. On average, leopards live 22 years in captivity.
What is the status of the clouded leopard?
Clouded leopards are listed as endangered by the US Fish and Wildlife Service under the United States Endangered Species Act. They are also classified as an Appendix I endangered species by CITES, which means that international trade is prohibited. The IUCN classifies clouded leopards as vulnerable.
Why did the clouded leopard go extinct in Taiwan?
Rabinowitz tells me he thinks the leopards probably went extinct soon after he visited the island and says their extinction “represents a sad setback to the incredible biodiversity and vitality of Planet Earth. We must be ever vigilant to prevent such extinctions in the future.”
When did the clouded leopard diverge from pantherine cats?
The clouded leopard is the first cat that genetically diverged 9.32 to 4.47 million years ago from the common ancestor of the pantherine cats. Several million years ago, it reached Sundaland, where it diverged 2.0–0.93 million years ago to a different species, the Sunda clouded leopard ( N. diardi ).
How many clouded leopards are there in Myanmar?
In one Myanmar market monitored by the conservation group Wildlife Alliance, the number of clouded leopard pelts has increased by 200% in just two years. Many of these products end up being purchased by consumers seeking traditional medicines and exotic fashions in the booming economy of China.