Clouded leopards face alarming decline amid ‘genetic crisis,’ study warns

Clouded leopards face alarming decline amid ‘genetic crisis,’ study warns

With their camouflaged coats, impossibly long tails, and extraordinary tree-climbing skills, clouded leopards are evolutionary marvels. They’re beautifully adapted to a feline life in the trees. But what evolution hadn’t reckoned on was us. A new genetic study indicates that the one-two punch of habitat loss and poaching has dealt the genetic diversity of the […]

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Southeast Asia’s big cats like their prey rare — as in really elusive

Southeast Asia’s big cats like their prey rare — as in really elusive

Tigers and clouded leopards are two of Southeast Asia’s most threatened and enigmatic big cat species. With the numbers of both in sharp decline across the region, leaving their remaining populations small and fragmented, it’s unsurprising that scientists know very little about basic things — such as what they eat. But now, a new study […]

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Study warns of risk from feline viruses to wild cats on the palm oil frontier

Study warns of risk from feline viruses to wild cats on the palm oil frontier

Antibody tests conducted on domestic cats and wild cats in Malaysian Borneo indicate that oil palm plantations may act as transmission sites for viruses, according to a new study. The study, carried out by researchers working with the Health at the Edge Project, which investigates wildlife parasite transmission in forest-agricultural landscapes in Borneo, and published […]

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