Three Little Clouded Leopard Cubs in Nashville!
April 07, 2011
Nashville Zoo just welcomed two litters of Clouded Leopards born March 19 and 22. Weighing only about half a pound each, the cubs are healthy and being hand-raised together by zoo keepers since Clouded Leopard are vulnerable to extinction and have a high mortality rate as cubs. Clouded leopards are threatened by deforestation, poaching and the pet trade. Since 2002, Nashville Zoo has been a member of the Thailand Clouded Leopard Consortium, an ongoing collaboration with the National Zoo, Point Defiance Zoo, Clouded Leopard Species Survival Program, Zoological Park Organization in Thailand and HKS Design and Consultants International to develop a multi-faceted clouded leopard conservation program that includes a viable self-sustaining breeding program.
All photo and video credits: Christian Sperka
The video below focuses on how to photograph animals but includes some great footage of the cubs towards the end.
Introducing clouded leopards to potential mates is difficult due to the cat’s reclusive disposition. Male clouded leopards are often aggressive and have been known to attack and kill potential female partners. To reduce fatal attacks, cubs are hand-raised and introduced to mates at a young age.
At just over five years old, this is Jing Jai’s third litter. Both she and her mate Arun came from the Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Chonburi, Thailand in 2008 as part of the Consortium’s effort to save the species from extinction. This is the first birth for 2-year old Lom Choy and her mate Luk. Lom Choy was imported from Thailand in spring 2010, and introduced to Luk, one of three cubs born to Jing Jai and Arun at Nashville Zoo in 2009.
The three new cubs are feeding on a special feline milk diet and will add about a half of a pound in weight each week for the next few months. At about six months of age, each will be paired up with potential mates.
Clouded leopards are native to the dense forests of Southeast Asia and parts of China. They grow to about five feet long (half of that is tail) and weigh 30 to 50 pounds. With short legs, large paws and a long tail, clouded leopards are well adapted to spend much of their time high in trees.