15 Mar 2007 - Gland, Switzerland
– Scientists have discovered that the clouded
leopard found on the islands of Borneo and
Sumatra is an entirely new species of cat.
The secretive rainforest animal was originally
thought to be the same species as the one
found in mainland South-east Asia.
The news comes just a few weeks after a
WWF report showed that scientists had identified
at least 52 new species of animals and plants
over the past year on Borneo.
“Who said a leopard can never change its
spots?" said Stuart Chapman, WWF International
Coordinator of the Heart of Borneo programme.
"For over a hundred years we have
been looking at this animal and never realized
it was unique. The fact that Borneo’s top
predator is now considered a separate species
further emphasizes the importance of conserving
one of the most biologically diverse habitats
on Earth.”
Researchers at the US National Cancer Institute
say the differences between the Borneo and
mainland clouded leopard were found to be
comparable to the differences between other
large cat species such as lion, tiger, leopard,
jaguar and snow leopard. They believe the
Borneo population likely diverged from the
mainland population some 1.4 million years
ago.
“Genetic research results clearly indicate
that the clouded leopards of Borneo should
be considered a separate species,” said
Dr Stephen O'Brien, Head of the Laboratory
of Genomic Diversity, US National Cancer
Institute. “DNA tests highlighted around
40 differences between the two species.”
The results of the genetic study are supported
by separate research on geographical variation
in the clouded leopard, based mainly on
fur patterns and colouration of skins held
in museums and collections.
“The moment we started comparing the skins
of the mainland clouded leopard with the
leopard found on Borneo, it was clear we
were comparing two different species,” said
Dr Andrew Kitchener, Department of Natural
Sciences, National Museums Scotland. “It’s
incredible that no one has ever noticed
these differences.”
The Borneo clouded leopard has small cloud
markings, many distinct spots within the
cloud markings, grey fur and a double dorsal
stripe. It is darker than the mainland species.
Clouded leopards from the mainland have
large clouds on their skin with fewer, often
faint, spots within the cloud markings.
They are lighter in colour, with a tendency
toward tawny-coloured fur and a partial
double dorsal stripe.
By taking into consideration the forest
conditions in Borneo, a total number of
5,000 to 11,000 Bornean clouded leopards
are estimated to live there. The total number
in Sumatra could be in the range of 3,000
to 7,000 individuals. However, further studies
are needed to obtain better population data.
The last great forest home of the Bornean
clouded leopard is the Heart of Borneo,
a 220,000km2 wild, mountainous region —
about five times the size of Switzerland
— covered with equatorial rainforest in
the centre of the island. Destruction of
their habitat is the main threat they face.
Last month in Bali (Indonesia), the ministers
of the three Bornean governments — Brunei
Darussalam, Indonesia and Malaysia — signed
an historic declaration to conserve and
sustainably manage the Heart of Borneo.
This has put the area on the global stage
of conservation priorities.
END NOTES:
• Based on their general physical appearance,
all clouded leopards were considered to
belong to a single species. However, recent
genetic analysis has shown that the ones
found on Borneo are so different that they
are best regarded as a separate species.
DNA tests highlighted around 40 nucleotide
differences between the two species. This
is comparable to differences between the
large Panthera species. Lions and leopards,
for instance, have 56 nucleotide differences.
The combined results of DNA analysis point
to a 1–3 million years difference in separation,
while the accepted distance of species is
1–2 million years.
• The clouded leopard was first scientifically
described in 1821 by the British naturalist
Edward Griffith. The scientific name of
the clouded leopard from the mainland is
Neofelis nebulosa, while the Bornean clouded
leopard is now called Neofelis diardi.
• Clouded leopards occur in most forested
habitats of Borneo, from coastal areas to
the interior mountain ranges. Their preferred
habitats, where most animals are found,
are the dense lowland and hill rainforests
of Borneo. They usually avoid open areas
with few trees and are very sensitive to
human disturbances.
• Bornean clouded leopards feed on monkeys,
mouse deer, barking deer, young bearded
pigs and sambar deer, which are stalked
on the ground or jumped upon from tree branches.
Occasionally birds and reptiles (such as
monitor lizards) are eaten as well.
Olivier van Bogaert, Senior Press Officer
WWF International
Stuart Chapman, Heart of Borneo Programme
Coordinator
WWF International
