![]() ![]() Due to this unpredictability, artificial insemination has been largely unsuccessful (only one successful insemination) up to this point. About 50 percent of clouded leopards studied have been known to exhibit spontaneous ovulation, but not after every estrus cycle, so they are considered intermittent spontaneous ovulators. ![]() Spontaneous ovulation is truly spontaneous and therefore can be unpredictable. It is almost impossible to determine if this is true for clouded leopards due to their ability to spontaneously ovulate as well. Most cat species are considered induced ovulators, meaning that the act of copulation induces the cat to ovulate. Like many cats, clouded leopards have various reproductive challenges. Cubs are independent after 1.5 to 2 years. At 5 weeks, cubs leave the nest, and they are weaned at 90 to 100 days. The gestation period is between 85 and 93 days with one to five cubs (usually two or three) produced per litter. Mating can occur in any month, but in human care, most breeding occurs between December and March. Often, the cats receive their diet either in training sessions or in enrichment in the yard ‐ it is not uncommon to see bags, boxes or bungees where food has been hidden/attached in the clouded leopards' yard.Ĭlouded leopards are sexually mature around 2 years old. ![]() Twice a week, the clouded leopards get bones in addition to their regular meal, from which they lick out the cartilage and then chew on the bone, which is good not only for enrichment but also for their teeth and gums. They also receive frozen-thawed rabbits twice a week, frozen-thawed rats twice a week, cooked chicken twice a week, and herring once a week. They receive this diet as the majority of their daily consumption twice a week. They are fed a zoo carnivore diet called Natural Balance, which is ground beef that has been specially formulated to provide the proper nutrients such as calcium and taurine, important for prevention of metabolic bone disease. Although a relatively small predator, a clouded leopard can take down sizeable prey because of its strong legs, large canines and extreme gape (ability to open mouth to about 100 degrees).Īt the Smithsonian's National Zoo, the clouded leopards are always fed separately to avoid aggression between individuals. Scientists once thought that clouded leopards mainly hunted from or in trees current thought, however, is that while some hunting may occur in the trees, the majority most likely takes place on the ground. Their chief prey are gibbons, macaques, slow loris, small deer and wild boars, which they ambush from the trees or stalk from the ground. Like all wild cats, clouded leopards are carnivores. Recent research has proposed the clouded leopard branched from other members of the Pantherinae family first-over 6 million years ago-making them the most ancient feline species in the modern cat world. They are a separate species of wild cat, as are snow leopards and leopards. Clouded leopards are not a "type" of leopard as their name implies. While all species of cats are classified as one family, the Felidae, genetic research has shown the clouded leopard to be most closely related to the large cat species. Black and pale, whitish individuals have been reported from Borneo indicating the species may exhibit dark and albino forms. The coat is brown or yellowish-gray and covered with irregular dark stripes, spots and blotches. It has proportionately short legs and a long tail. While more closely related to big cats, the clouded leopard is frequently described as bridging the gap between big and small cats due largely to its smaller stature. These canines are longer in proportion to skull size than those of any other species of wild cat. Another distinctive feature of the clouded leopard is its long canine teeth. Specialized anklebones allow varied position for climbing, including climbing headfirst down trees. Due to its forest habitat, clouded leopards have large, dexterous paws with specialized footpads for gripping branches.
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