Clouded leopard caught on camera in Sabah forest

The Star 3 Jul 12;


Rare shot: The clouded leopard which was captured on camera in Sabah’s Malua Forest Reserve.

KOTA KINABALU: The elusive clouded leopard has been caught on camera as it roamed the Malua Forest Reserve close to the well-known Tabin Wildlife Reserve in Lahad Datu.

The clouded leopard, which is the biggest cat in Borneo jungles, was captured by a camera trap set up by Cardiff University student Penny Gardner, who was doing a study on wild cattle known as banteng or tembadau.

The pictures, which were uploaded to the Danau Girang Field Centre’s Facebook page, showed wild animals including the bearded pig, Borneo pygmy elephant, crested fireback bird and orang utan in the wild around the Malua forest.

According to Gardner, the large clouded leopard was caught by a camera set up next to a logging road in the Malua forest area.

Her camera snapped the elusive cat on June 22 and the pictures were uploaded to Facebook two days ago.

The clouded leopard population on Borneo island is estimated to be around 5,000.

Meanwhile, Sabah Wildlife Department field veterinarian Dr Sen Nathan said that it was a chance find.

He said the clouded leopard had always been elusive and capturing it on camera in the wild was very rare.