| Actual Image
Clouded Leopard (Neofelis nebulosa) (30)
danbachmann
![Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 75 W: 19 N: 143]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-s-g.gif) (463) | The clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa) is a medium-sized wild cat found in the forests of Asia and they are very shy. It took a some time for this one to come out, even when food was offered. They are generally nocturnal. Little is known about the wild behavior of clouded leopards due to their extremely secretive nature. For more about the cloaded leopard, take a look at the Clouded Leopard Project site.
Shot using apature priority (@f/2.8) to get the fastest shutter speed. I found most amazing about these animals was the patterns on the fur - it looked much more like the markings of a large snake than a leopard.
This picture was taken at the Santago Rare Leopard Project - a breeding program for rare leopards and big cats, not in the wild.
I found a quote from Peter James, the keeper at the Project about the reason clouded leopards are here:
"As an essential backup to wild populations it is important to maintain a genetically viable population which could be used to restock forests once the present threats have been stopped or even reversed. This situation may not occur for many years to come. However, as the Clouded Leopard is one of the most difficult species to breed in captivity the early set up of specialist breeding reserves is essential."
"In Britain there are fewer than twenty Clouded Leopards in captivity - too few to maintain a viable population in the long term. It is vital that unrelated animals are imported into Britain in order to revitalise the captive gene pool."
For more information on the Santago Rare Leopard Project, read the travelogue on this site called "Santago Rare Leopard Project" |
|
