Endangered Species Day has been around since 2006, focusing on education and conservation regarding species that have had a population decline. It is a lovely coincidence that it was on Endangered Species Day that the conservation institution known as the Orangutan Foundation spotted something rare on one of its forest camera traps. It was not an orangutan, but a Bornean clouded leopard.Three to be exact. A mother and two babies.
The Orangutan Foundation posted the adorable camera footage on Instagram. The video was taken in the Tanjung Puting National Park in western Indonesia. This is extremely exciting news to see a thriving BoBornean clouded leopards live in the island forests of Borneo and Sumatra. ItS arduous for scientists to get a clear picture of how many of these cats are living in the wild since they are so elusive. Estimates range from 8,000 to 18,000 across both islands according to the Felidae Conservation Fund. When comparing that population to other big cats, it’s easy to see how small it is indeed. The Environmental Literacy Council shows there are 173,000 wild jaguars and 20,000 lions. Compare that even further to the existence of 1.5 billion cattle according to WorldAtlas and the problem of its small population becomes clear.
The bornean clouded leopard gets its name from the cloud-like markings on its fur. It has the longest canine teeth out of any feline species, growing up to two inches in length. Their tails,as long as their bodies,help them keep excellent balance in the trees of their forest home as they hunt for their next meal,which typically consists of local monkeys,deer,and pigs.
Habitat loss – a massive threat to humanity – isn’t the only danger facing the Bornean clouded leopard. It is also in danger of being hunted by humans. Further,humans are also hunting the same food as the leopard,making its survival more difficult. Compounding its problems, the leopards have slow population growth, with few of their cubs surviving to reproductive age thanks to poaching.