Page 51 - Animals of the Wild April 2017(1)_Neat

Clouded leopards prey on birds, squirrels, monkeys, deer and wild pigs. They hunt at night but
daytime activity has been reported. They mostly hunt on the ground. It is unknown how clouded
leopards kill their prey but it is believed that they bite the neck of the prey and their canine teeth
sever nerves and blood vessels and strangle the windpipe, killing the prey immediately.

Mating season is all year round. Pregnancy is 85-93 days when 1-5 cubs get born. The cubs are born
with closed eyes and open their eyes only after 12 days. The cubs nurse until five months and only
develop their adult colour when they are six months old. The cubs reach independence around 10
months and sexual maturity at the age of 2 years. Females can give birth every year.

In captivity, there is aggression between the males and females resulting in the death of the females.
Both sexes are introduced to each other before they reach one year to minimize this aggression. The
cubs are hand-raised by feeders.

Threats towards the clouded leopard include illegal hunting for Chinese medicines and fur but also
include deforestation

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