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| Rare clouded leopard saved | |
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| Topic Started: Jul 17 2006, 01:09 AM (73 Views) | |
| Deleted User | Jul 17 2006, 01:09 AM Post #1 |
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Rare clouded leopard saved from smuggler in Vietnam safe at rescue centre By TRAN VAN MINH http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/WeirdNews/2006...1684478-ap.html HANOI, Vietnam (AP) - A rare clouded leopard was rescued in Vietnam from a smuggler believed to be headed to China, and the big cat is now recovering from an injury in Hanoi, officials said Friday. The 18-kilogram female was discovered by border guards on July 1 in northern Quang Ninh province when a man dropped a bag before running from authorities. He escaped by jumping into a river along the Vietnam-China border near the town of Mong Cai, said Ngo Ba Oanh, director of the Hanoi Centre for Wild Animal Rescue, where the cat is being held. The animal was found inside the bag sedated and with an injured right front paw, he said. "Obviously, the leopard was trapped and the man was trying to smuggle it to China," Oanh said. The cat will remain at the centre for three to six months to allow it to fully recover before officials decide whether to release it back into the wild. Another clouded leopard that was confiscated from a smuggler in 1996 was taken to the centre and eventually housed at a zoo, said Nguyen Van Nhung, an official at the centre. Clouded leopards are found in Asia and are rarely seen in the wild. They are known for their reclusive nature and tree-climbing ability and get their name from their unique spotted markings, making them sought after by poachers. |
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| Deleted User | Jul 17 2006, 01:10 AM Post #2 |
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Behavior The clouded leopard is a tree dweller, and has a squirrel-like agility like the margay of South America. In captivity, clouded leopards routinely hang by their hind legs with their long tails swinging for balance and run head-first down tree trunks. Little is known about their behaviour in the wild, but it is assumed that they are highly arboreal and that a favoured hunting tactic is to drop on prey from the trees. The habits of the clouded leopard are largely unknown because of the animal's secretive nature. Due to the lack of evidence for a pack- or pride-society like that of lions, it is assumed that they are generally solitary creatures. Certainly they interact with other clouded leopards while engaged in activities relating to mating and rearing young. While it was once assumed that the Clouded Leopard was active only at night, the cats have now been observed during the day. Breeding A clouded leopard cubFemales give birth to a litter of 1 to 5 cubs after a gestation period of about 85 to 93 days. The young are blind and helpless to begin with, much like the young of many other cats. Unlike adults, the kittens' spots are "solid"—completely dark rather than dark rings. The young can see within about 10 days of birth, are active within 5 weeks, and probably become independent at about 10 months of age. Clouded leopards reach sexual maturity at two years of age and females are able to bear one litter each year. Adults in captivity have lived as long as 17 years: in the wild, it is reasonable to assume a considerably shorter lifespan. These figures give one hope that the clouded leopard will be able to increase its numbers with careful management. Despite these facts, captive breeding programs have met with little success in their early stages, largely because the females were frequently killed by aggressive males. However, experience has taught keepers that pairs introduced and given opportunities to bond at an early age often breed successfully. |
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| agate | Jul 17 2006, 11:21 AM Post #3 |
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What a awesome, beautiful animal... |
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8:06 AM Jul 12