Clouded Leopard
Seeing wild cats can become a bit of an addiction and of course if it does it makes sense that it will be the rarest species which are the most difficult to view in the wild. The Clouded Leopard is a cat that definitely falls into that category.
The clouded leopard is a medium sized cat which has a geographical range from the Himalayan foothills, through to many areas in south east Asia and as far east as parts of southern China. Because it is mainly a nocturnal species information on specific behaviour like mating, size of litters and how females rear the young is not well documented. Even their population size is mainly guesswork based on camera trap and scat analysis; but the IUCN class them as vulnerable.
They are superb climbers, with specially adapted rotating rear ankles, that allow them to easily come down trees in a headfirst position. Despite this arboreal expertise, it is thought they catch most of their prey on the ground and their varied diet includes small deer, pigs, monkeys, squirrels and birds. Their hunting skills are aided by having the largest canines per body size in the wild cat family.
Their beautiful coat often a dark grey or ochreous ground-colour is often hidden by extensive black spots of blotches. Striking black stripes are often visible running from the side of their eyes across most of their cheeks.
Seeing Clouded Leopards in the wild is a considerable challenge and requires a combination of extensive planning and luck. In most cases without committing to many days of night time drives with expert guides and spotters, you will not be able to achieve your goal.
A unique Borneo safari which few companies offer. Combining three stunning and very different wildlife locations to maximise your animal encounters. Dermakot is now famous in Borneo for the chance to see nocturnal species such as Clouded Leopard, Leopard cat and Malay Civets. It is always thrilling to enter a wildlife location that is still very much new and off the radar and our time walking and driving in Imbak Canyon is sure to reveal some amazing birds; including up to 8 Hornbill species. This pristine rainforest landscape is also an important sanctuary for rare and endangered species including the Bornean pygmy elephant, clouded leopard, orangutan, proboscis monkey, Bornean gibbon, grey, silver and red leaf monkeys.
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As we write this article in July 2020, we can say that with some confidence Dermakot wildlife reserve in northern Borneo is one of the best locations to see small wild cats in the whole of Asia. This is a combination of ideal habitat, extensive research and the huge amount of time spent on night drives within the reserve – the harder you work, the luckier you get. Genuine chances to see Clouded Leopard – Tarsier – Slow Loris – Leopard Cat and Marbled Cat.
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Borneo is one of the best locations in asia for both specialist birds and mammals and our hand picked naturalists are genuine experts in all wildlife viewing; not just the charismatic larger mammals. Before travel we will provide you with a birding and mammal list and by includig several day in Mount Kinabalu national park, we increase our chances of spotting rare endemics, like the Whitehead’s Trogon, Whitehead’s Broadbill and Borneo Green Magpie. On the mammals side of things, we will be looking for Orangutan, Pygmy Elephant , Clouded Leopard,Tarsier, Slow Loris , Leopard Cat, Marbled Cat, Proboscis Monkey, Bornean Gibbon, Civet Cats, Flying Squirrels, Sunda Skunk, Maroon Langur, Grey Langur and a variety of reptiles.
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When you combine Dermakot, Kinabatangan and Tabin wildlife reserve within the same Borneo safari, you are without doubt looking at the most diverse and mammal rich tour itinerary possible in Sabah.
HERE ARE JUST SOME OF WILD ANIMALS OF BORNEO YOU MAY ENCOUNTER
Orangutan – Pygmy Elephant – Clouded Leopard – Tarsier – Slow Loris – Leopard Cat – Marbled Cat – Sun Bear – Rhinoceros Hornbill (and the other 7 species) – Proboscis Monkey – Bornean Gibbon – Civet Cats – Flying Squirrels – Estuarine Crocodiles – Sunda Skunk – Maroon Langur – Grey Langur and a variety of spectacular birds and reptiles.
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