Clouded Leopards – rare glimpse of Borneo’s top predator
Published on: Tuesday, March 05, 2019
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Local presenter Alex is fortunate to be involved in the tagging and study of one of the rarest and largest carnivores in Borneo, the Sunda clouded leopard (Neofelis diardi).
Only six animals have ever been studied by the scientists at the centre, so she was incredibly lucky to be able to get up close with this majestic cat, now listed as vulnerable to extinction on the IUCN Red List.
Alex positioning a camera trap, to hopefully capture the Sunda clouded leopard.
The Sunda clouded leopard is the largest of the carnivores found in Borneo.
Its coat is patterned with irregular dark edged spots which give the appearance of clouds, apparently where its name came from but also very useful for providing camouflage in the dappled light of the dense jungle.
It is an excellent climber and known to hunt birds, squirrels and even monkeys in trees.
It does this by climbing upside down under tree branches, using its hind legs to hang from tree limbs and can even descend a tree headfirst – a skill only a few cats in the whole kingdom have mastered. Very impressive for such a large predator!
A team of scientists researching the Sunda clouded leopard.
Study programme
In the fifth episode of the Borneo Jungle Diaries series, Alex joins the scientists from DGFC as they receive news that they have caught a clouded leopard in one of the research traps they had set.
The trapping is being done so the animal can be sedated and then fitted with a satellite collar, while other details of the animal are also recorded when it is asleep.
The satellite collar is a vital tool in understanding more about these creatures as they are so rare to see in the wild that it is difficult to gather useful information on them.
Alex (inset) with Dr Miriam Kunde setting up a camera trap in the forest.
Data is needed so they can be properly protected as they face several threats, even when living in protected areas like the Lower Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary.
There are thought to only be around 750 individual leopards left in Sabah, a frighteningly small number. The cats have been targeted for their skin by poachers.
Although they are a fully-protected species, they are still hunted.
Satellite collar being fitted.
It is not only their skin that is sought after, but their paws, feet and skulls are all used in traditional medicine and with the dwindling numbers of tigers worldwide left to poach, clouded leopard bones have become highly valuable as an alternative.
The most serious threat though is deforestation, with Sabah losing nearly 40pc of its forest between 1973 and 2010.
All aspects of health of the Sunda clouded leopard being checked.
Action Plan
Previously, the scientists at DGFC managed to collar six individual leopards and the data gathered has enabled a great leap forward in the survival of the species.
The findings from the research on the leopards was published in the journal Biological Conservation last year.
One of the main findings was the detail of the leopard’s movements which were clearly seen thanks to the satellite collars.
It was very obvious that the leopards did not like moving through areas not covered by forest canopy, such as oil palm plantations.
Dr Benoit Goossens, Director of the Danau Girang Field Centre and Reader at Cardiff University, explained that their research showed that the conversion of frequently flooded and underproductive plantation areas to forest would bring large benefits to Sunda clouded leopards, whilst minimising impacts to the plantation industry.
They also predicted that the reforestation of narrow riparian corridors may be an important and cost-effective conservation tool for this species.
It is studies like this that are so vital to the survival of the Sunda clouded leopard in Borneo.
Measurements being taken.
With the data collected, it is immediately obvious how important wildlife corridors are, so the leopards can move between territories to find mates, and how much of a benefit it would be if under-performing oil palm plantations were returned to forested areas.
In fact, rehabilitated forest might be the best habitat for the leopards due to the higher density of prey species than you would find in virgin forest, another amazing discovery from the recent research.
With the help and support of the Sime Darby Foundation and WildCRU, Dr Benoit Goossens has now been able to put together a 10-year action plan to save not only the Sunda clouded leopard in Borneo, but also the proboscis monkey and Bornean banteng.
Those plans were launched by the Deputy Chief Minister-cum-State Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Christina Liew last September.
Hopefully this action plan will be the silver lining these clouds are in need of, saving this iconic species from extinction.
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