Malaysia: Clouded leopard remains found

Skull, bones are those of a leopard
New Straits Times 26 Jun 13;

NO FOUL PLAY: It may have fallen into pond and drowned

MARAN: The Pahang Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) has concluded that the skull and bones found near a pond in Kampung Sentosa here last week belonged to an adult clouded leopard.

A team from the district Perhilitan office here, which examined the remains, had ruled out poaching, saying the animal, which was under threat of extinction, might have slipped and fallen into the pond while attempting to cross it.

It was learnt that a villager had stumbled on the decomposed carcass, which was emitting a foul smell, floating in the pond on June 21, before pulling it to the side of the pond.

However, the animal, also known as harimau dahan, a species protected under the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010, was in poor condition as the outer layers of the dried skin had begun to peel off, leaving the bones exposed.

The villager informed the department, which sent its personnel to the spot.

They identified the clouded leopard based on the shape of its skull, which was different from other members of the cat family.

State Perhilitan director Khairiah Mohd Sharif said the department did not suspect any foul play in the death of the clouded leopard and that the case was not linked to illegal hunters.

"Our personnel only managed to recover the skull and bones, and identified the stripes based on the bits of the skin, which was recovered from the body.

"Based on its condition, the animal could have been dead for more than two weeks before the villager found it.

"It is surprising to find the animal dead near a human settlement as there has been no report of attacks by the clouded leopard or previous sightings of the animal here," she said yesterday.

Khairiah said the skull and bones were kept at the Maran Perhilitan office and would be brought to the state headquarters here for research.

A source said the leopard, which usually targets birds, deers and monkeys, might have fallen into the pond while chasing a prey or drowned in the pond while attempting to cross it.