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Homescience

Meet Clouded Leopard: One of the most elusive big cats on Earth

The clouded leopard, a mysterious and tree-loving big cat of Southeast Asia, is known for its cloud-like spots, powerful build, and secretive lifestyle deep within lush tropical forests.

Sheetal Kumari | August 04, 2025 / 14:50 IST
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The Elusive Clouded Leopard: The clouded leopard is found in Southeast Asia, and it is famous for its elusive nature, beautiful coat designs, and arboreal lifestyle. (Image: Canva)
The Elusive Clouded Leopard: The clouded leopard is found in Southeast Asia, and it is famous for its elusive nature, beautiful coat designs, and arboreal lifestyle. (Image: Canva)
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Beautiful Cloud-Like Spots: Its distinctive cloud-shaped rosettes are responsible for its name, as they offer ideal camouflage in dense jungles. (Image: Canva)
Beautiful Cloud-Like Spots: Its distinctive cloud-shaped rosettes are responsible for its name, as they offer ideal camouflage in dense jungles. (Image: Canva)
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Tree-Acrobat: Clouded leopards are brilliant climbers. They can hang upside down from branches and climb down trees headfirst. (Image: Canva)
Tree-Acrobat: Clouded leopards are brilliant climbers. They can hang upside down from branches and climb down trees headfirst. (Image: Canva)
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Not a True Leopard: In spite of its common name, it is not closely related to actual leopards. It is in its own individual genus Neofelis. (Image: Canva)
Not a True Leopard: In spite of its common name, it is not closely related to actual leopards. It is in its own individual genus Neofelis. (Image: Canva)
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Bite Force Relative to Size: This cat boasts the biggest canine teeth in proportion to skull size of any wild cat—designed for crushing bites. (Image: Canva)
Bite Force Relative to Size: This cat boasts the biggest canine teeth in proportion to skull size of any wild cat—designed for crushing bites. (Image: Canva)
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Elusive and Solitary: Seldom spotted in the wild, clouded leopards are solitary and primarily active at twilight and night. (Image: Canva)
Elusive and Solitary: Seldom spotted in the wild, clouded leopards are solitary and primarily active at twilight and night. (Image: Canva)
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Endangered and Vulnerable: Their population is declining owing to habitat loss, poaching, and deforestation. They're currently considered vulnerable. (Image: Canva)
Endangered and Vulnerable: Their population is declining owing to habitat loss, poaching, and deforestation. They're currently considered vulnerable. (Image: Canva)
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Lives in Forested Realms: They live in the Himalayan foothills, Southeast Asia, and island nations such as Borneo and Sumatra. (Image: Canva)
Lives in Forested Realms: They live in the Himalayan foothills, Southeast Asia, and island nations such as Borneo and Sumatra. (Image: Canva)
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Mysterious Reproduction Habits: Much of their breeding behavior is unknown, contributing to their mystery reputation. (Image: Canva)
Mysterious Reproduction Habits: Much of their breeding behaviour is unknown, contributing to their mysterious reputation. (Image: Canva)
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Symbol of Forest Conservation: Saving clouded leopards is saving ancient forests and the rich biodiversity they harbor. (Image: Canva)
Symbol of Forest Conservation: Saving clouded leopards is saving ancient forests and the rich biodiversity they harbor. (Image: Canva)

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