CONSERVATION STATUS
The clouded leopard exists as two species in Southeast Asia, the mainland clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa), whose range stretches from Nepal in the west to Peninsular Malaysia in the east, and the Sunda clouded leopard, (Neofelis diardi), which lives on Borneo and Sumatra. Southeast Asia supports approximately 15% of the world’s tropical forests but it is exposed to some of the highest rates of deforestation. Clouded leopards are threatened by deforestation and illegal poaching, but given their charisma they have the potential to serve as ambassador species for their biome and their protection has the potential to be linked to carbon conservation, with impacts to environmental conservation and management far beyond biodiversity conservation. As the smallest of the big cats they are by far the least known but both species are listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN and they are locally extinct across most of China, in Taiwan, Singapore and probably Hainan Island and Vietnam.
WILDCRU APPROACH
WildCRU’s approach involves camera trapping and modelling of both the mainland and Sunda species and intensive field study, including genetics, of the Sunda clouded leopard. Surveys and monitoring have involved vast arrays of camera trapping grids to study the distribution, habitats, guilds and communities, of both species in nine countries (India, Nepal, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia and Indonesia). In our long-term study of Sunda clouded leopard in Sabah, Borneo, in addition to camera trapping, we deploy satellite collars on individuals to yield extremely high-resolution information about their movement ecology. Our field data provide the foundation for landscape modelling to reveal habitat relationships and potential movement pathways under current and alternative land use scenarios. We are using this modelling approach to explore the feasibility of reintroducing clouded leopard to Taiwan.
CLOUDED LEOPARD IMPACT HIGHLIGHTS
Co-authored Sabah clouded leopard action plan 2016-2024
Sequenced a total of 13 wild Sunda clouded leopard genomes
Surveys in 9 countries led to a camera trap database of over 2 million (2,064,576) records
These WILDCRU programmes currently work on clouded leopards:
These WILDCRU projects currently work on clouded leopards:
Key WildCRU publications relating to clouded leopards:
A multi-scale, multivariate habitat selection model demonstrates high potential for the reintroduction of the clouded leopard Neofelis nebulosa to Taiwan
Multi-scale habitat modelling identifies spatial conservation priorities for mainland clouded leopards (Neofelis nebulosa)
Multi-scale, multivariate community models improve designation of biodiversity hotspots in the Sunda Islands
Projected development in Borneo and Sumatra will greatly reduce connectivity for an apex carnivore
A multi-scale, multivariate habitat selection model demonstrates high potential for the reintroduction of the clouded leopard Neofelis nebulosa to Taiwan
Multi-scale habitat modelling identifies spatial conservation priorities for mainland clouded leopards (Neofelis nebulosa)
Multi-scale, multivariate community models improve designation of biodiversity hotspots in the Sunda Islands
Projected development in Borneo and Sumatra will greatly reduce connectivity for an apex carnivore
The islands of Borneo and Sumatra are strongholds for biodiversity and home for many endemic species. They also have experienced amongst the highest deforestation rates globally. Both islands are undergoing massive, rapid infrastructure development, leading to further deforestation and habitat fragmentation. Here, we identify priority areas for continued functional forest connectivity across Borneo and Sumatra, using spatial models of clouded leopard (Neofelis diardi, a forest indicator species) movement, and impacts thereto from existing and future infrastructure development. We specifically measure and map the anticipated impacts on forest functional connectivity of three major infrastructure development projects (Pan Borneo Highway, Trans-Sumatran Toll Road, and the new Indonesian capital city of Nusantara). We found that core clouded leopard habitats are already highly fragmented in Sumatra, constituting only ∼13 % of the island, with potential dispersal corridors still linking some habitat fragments. In Borneo, clouded leopard core habitats cover 34 % of the island, with one large central core area and several much smaller satellite cores, which are largely unprotected (15 % protected, compared to 42 % in Sumatra). The largest negative effect on habitat connectivity was predicted for Nusantara (66 % of the total connectivity loss predicted for all three infrastructure projects), reverberating across the entirety of Borneo with the strongest effects in East Kalimantan. The Pan Borneo Highway accounted for 28 % of the total connectivity loss, affecting every province in Borneo and Brunei, with 6 % of this decrease located within protected areas. The Trans-Sumatran Toll Road had the smallest negative effect on connectivity (6 %) but only when excluding the already built segments, which, when included, produce a total negative impact similar to that of the Pan Borneo Highway.