Clouded leopard
(Neofelis nebulosa)
EEP Coordinator: Lauren Amos, Howletts Wild Animal Trust
Vice coordinator: Mike Sterken, Ouwehands Zoo
EEP page - Clouded leopard
What are the EEP roles?
| Source | There is the possibility and potential for a reintroduction project in locations where the species is extinct or possibly extinct. Taiwan is pointed as the preferred and most realistic starting point, followed by Laos and Vietnam. The project would be held in a cooperation between EAZA and AZA, making use of breeding centres on site (none in place yet, need to be funded and built), following the IUCN translocation guidelines, and with the back up from the EEP/ SSP. Besides Taiwan, reintroduction in other locations will only be possible after the threat of “snaring” is under control, and this is not predicted by the current knowledge within the Felid TAG to be happing in a near future. |
| Insurance | The EAZA Felid TAG believes there is a strong insurance role for the ex situ population, with the EAZA population being part of the global ex situ population. There is the urge to increase the population and work on achieving a better genetic diversity and healthy age pyramid. A healthy and well-established population would serve as the basis for future reintroduction projects |
| Research and training | Important general knowledge is still missing for the species. Holders can contribute with sharing expertise, husbandry, and veterinary knowledge, which can be used in future projects, breeding centres, and in situ population management actions. To the present date, ex situ breeding success was only achieved by placing juveniles (under one years of age) together and therefore knowledge on how to achieve success pairing adults is still missing - the EAZA Felid TAG (while acknowledging welfare risks and high investment) sees a research and training opportunity on this topic, and expresses that without it, it is likely that the population will go extinct in EAZA |
| Fundraising | It is highly recommended that EEP participants explore and engage (or continue) in fund raising activities. A number of ongoing in situ conservation and research activities still require financial support, and zoos can play a key role on this. The EAZA Felid TAG is available to guide EEP participants in the process of choosing, prioritizing, and connecting with relevant projects such as the Clouded Leopard Working Group, Project Neofelis and for the Sunda species: Borneo Nature Foundation. |
| Education | The EAZA Felid TAG sees a good Education opportunity concerning the Clouded leopard for several reasons: It is one of the flagship species in its region, charismatic and with unique anatomical adaptations, being the most arboreal adapted and the fourth largest felid in the region. It can be used to raise awareness and educate the public about the threats (especially snaring and illegal wildlife trade) Southeast Asian species are facing, with a similar profile, in this sense, to the Saola (Pseudoryx nghetinhensis). It is still less known than several other felid species and therefore holders can play an important role “raising” its profile, and also use it to draw more attention to diversity of smaller cat species in general – as the EAZA Felid TAG believes smaller cat species need more investment from the holders. International Clouded Leopard day is an easy way to help spread awareness and the more people that join in the more recognition this species gets. The EEP coordinator and advisors have created the International Clouded Leopard Day social media page a long with a specific Clouded Leopard Keepers facebook group and a small wild cat resource facebook group so that information can be shared and asked for more easily. |
EEP in numbers
In January 2026, the Clouded leopard EEP included:
- 90 animals
- in 37 institutions.
Programme highlights
- It is International Clouded leopard day on the 4th of August. Celebrate with us on this day. The logo can be found above.
