Researchers working in the rainforests of Borneo and Sumatra have captured rare footage of a Sunda clouded leopard. The team documented a female individual that was first observed over six years ago as an adult, making her at least eight and a half years old. This makes her the oldest member of her species ever recorded in the wild.
Sunda clouded leopards carry the nickname ghost of the forest because they are notoriously difficult to spot. Their numbers dropped due to habitat loss and illegal hunting, leading to a vulnerable status on the IUCN Red List. This specific discovery provides valuable data on how these animals navigate environments shaped by human activity and logging.
While males are often seen on the ground while patrolling territory, females typically remain high in the canopy, making them elusive for researchers to track. This female successfully navigated a fragmented landscape for years, proving the resilience of the species when provided with adequate habitat and protection.
The findings came from a collaboration between the Sabah Forestry Department, the Sabah Wildlife Department, indigenous communities, and Panthera. This evidence confirms that these cats travel significant distances, with some individuals moving over 22 miles between recorded locations. The scientific team intends to use this information to better design future conservation strategies for the region.