Cat Superheros

We took advantage of the gathering of cat researchers to a group shot of the attendees who have been supported by the work of the Clouded Leopard Project and the Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium. From left to right: Andrew Hearn, Gilmore Bolongon, David MacDonald, Susan Cheyne, Andreas Wilting, Joanna Ross, me, Jennifer McCarthy, Maureen O'Keefe (CLP), and Azlan Mohamed. It's so great to be able to hang out with these guys and learn even more about their work!

Cats and Civets and Otters, Oh My!

Ever heard of a Hose's civet? How about a Borneo ferret badger or collared mongoose?? These are a few of the 24 carnivore species at the center of attention of this week's conference in Borneo. Yesterday, each species was profiled in terms of research history, distribution, and threats and the overwhelming outcome was that our knowledge of most of these creatures is abysmal.

One of the primary goals of the conference is to gather all existing and historical records on known locations of Borneo's carnivores into a single database that can then be used to create models predicting the distribution of each species. Prior to the conference, researchers completed questionnaires detailing locations of specimens from camera traps, actual sightings, road kills, etc. In addition, collection locations were amassed from specimens in natural history museums as well as from historical research publications. These data were then combined with maps of Borneo's climate, topography, and human activities and habitat alteration. The result is a Habitat Suitability Index map that serves as a very rough predictive model of where the species may occur which can drive further research and conservation planning.

Here's what the Sunda clouded leopard HSI looks like. The colors represent the probability that the species will occur in the area with dark red being the highest, the warm tones intermediate, and the blue tones being low probability.

However, it is extremely important to note that there are several factors that influence these maps and limit their predictive power. First, the records used for modelling use actual location data, the maps are strongly biased toward Sabah, the Malaysian state in the far north of Borneo as that is where most research efforts have been undertaken. Therefore, that weights the habitat there more strongly and may inaccurately indicate too low of a liklihood of a species occuring in regions that have been little studied. There are also issues with maps being out of date, especially in terms of habitat alteration. Therefore, it may show a high probability of a species occuring in an area that has been transformed into a palm oil plantation. However, these maps are an important first step in being able to determine the gaps in research efforts and point out how species distribution may relate to protected areas and influence conservation planning.

I was very impressed by the technical expertise and determination required to collate all this information for each species. It was also amazing to hear the feedback from the researchers assembled as they relayed their experiences encountering (or not encountering!) these fascinating species that have so far mostly flown under the radar of wildlife conservation attention.

Southeast Asian Wildlife Trade Report

The Symposium began this morning with a pretty depressing, albeit critical update on the status of Southeast Asian carnivores in the wildlife trade by Chris Shepherd, regional director of TRAFFIC, an organization focused on monitoring the market of wildlife. Despite all the efforts to address this issue, Chris reported that the Asian trade now is bigger than ever and has reached crisis proportions where we may be near the tipping point of large scale species loss. This loss is driven by an insatiable appetite for wildlife and wildlife products in Asia, particularly China, although the U.S. is another major market for smugglers of illegal wildlife products.

The reasons for trade Chris profiled are the usual suspects: skins, trophies, medicinal uses, and meat. Some scary new statistics:  a recent one-day survey in a notorious wildlife market on the border of Thailand and Myanmar netted a count of 120 clouded leopard skins! A survey of restaurants in peninsular Malaysia resulted in 900 found to be serving wild meat, including bear, civets, and tiger. And hundreds of thousands of civets are exported from Vietnam to China each year.

In the case of carnivores such as civets, many species targeted are almost certain to be depleted before research has even made a dent in studying them. There is little baseline data on populations so the impact of trade is virtually unknown. So why is trade in these species escalating without any appreciable way to stop it?

First, while tiger and clouded leopard trade may draw attention, small carnivores have no real flagship species to draw support and don't attract the attention of conservation donors. Small carnivores are also a low priority for wildlife law enforcement, and most people know little about this group of animals including researchers, enforcement agencies, and the public in general. There are tools of wildlife laws, CITES treaties, and the ASEAN Wildlife Enforcement Network, but these tools cannot be successful without prioritizing study of impacts and enforcement. In addition, the laws protecting these species vary considerably; on the island of Borneo there are four different sets of laws with little cooperation and collaboration among the governments.

Chris summarized his presentation by making the following recommendations:

• Initiate long-term monitoring of the status of small carnivores
• Measure the impact of trade and hunting on these species
• Increase enforcement efforts and support for these efforts
• Assess and amend national legislation to provide better protection
• Standarize laws and enforcement procedures
• Address hunting issues when conducting conservation planning
• Identify funding strategies to support small carnivore conservation efforts
• Develop materials to raise the profile of small carnivores and concern for their conservation

It's quite an ambitious list and time is running out, but hopefully this meeting will be an important step in giving these species the attention and priority needed for their conservation on Borneo.

Borneo Carnivore Symposium, Day One

Maureen and I made it to Borneo and have had a great first day at the Symposium. Last night was the icebreaker and it was fun to start getting reacquainted with some of the folks we've met and have been working with over the last few years. With such a far-flung cat conservation network, it's wonderful to have an opportunity to come together every once in a while like this. There are nearly 200 people from 15 countries attending the meeting which is supported by both the CLP and Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium. The meeting is focused on the 24 species of carnivores inhabiting the island of Borneo, including the five cat species (Sunda clouded leopard, flat-headed cat, bay cat, marbled cat, and leopard cat), civets, mongoose, and otters.

Today was a very full day of interesting introductory papers. We began with a comprehensive overview of the Asian wildlife trade which I will detail in more depth next. Then the rest of the day was devoted to a review of carnivore research methodology. The methods discussed were: community surveys, transects, conservation genetics, live trapping, telemetry, camera trapping, and landscape modeling. Each discussion focused on determining the best methodology for answering a particular study question, the pros and cons of each method, planning for implementation, and ways to maximize the efficacy of each technique. Much current information was presented and I look forward to updating our website to reflect the status of each of these methods.

I look forward to tomorrow's program of species-specific reports. Stay tuned!

Borneo Bound

This week, fellow CLP Board member Maureen O'Keefe and I are heading to Borneo to attend the Borneo Carnivore Symposium in Kota Kinabulu, Sabah, Malaysia. This meeting will bring together a host of field biologists and others interested in carnivore research and conservation. We are taking advantage of this gathering to host a workshop on carnivore education after the Symposium. The CLP and Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium is hosting this workshop to plan the development of carnivore education in the region.

Additionally, Maureen and I will be delivering carnivore education kits to several non-profit conservation organizations. These kits will be used in their outreach programming to local communities. The kits contain a variety of carnivore and herbivore skull replicas and associated activities, a clouded leopard costume, books, coloring pages, and a carnivore card matching activity. These kits were funded by contributions to the CLP as well as a generous donation from the Point Defiance Chapter of the American Association of Zoo Keepers.

Maureen and I will also be joining a small group of Symposium attendees on a post-conference trip to several protected areas to view wildlife and field study sites. After our time in Borneo we will also visit Kerinci National Park in Sumatra to deliver another kit and meet with park staff and educators there as well. We have a very full trip planned and hope it will be productive in advancing conservation efforts for clouded leopards and the other carnivores! I'll try to post a few updates from the road as online access allows.

Clouded Leopard Poaching in Brunei

This undated photo of a skinned Bornean Clouded Leopard was taken in Merangking, Labi, Kuala Belait. Picture: Courtesy of Hand Dols

Bandar Seri Begawan - Scholars are calling for a stop to the poaching and hunting of the endangered Bornean Clouded Leopard for illegal trade as it is a serious offence under Brunei's Wildlife Protection Act.
There have been reports of hunting and killing of the endangered animal in Kg Merangking in Belait District where locals are selling leopard pelts at a lucrative price, researchers told The Brunei Times recently.

Dr Ang Bee Bian, a project administrator of the Sg Ingei expedition, a faunal biodiversity survey in the forests of Sg Ingei in Belait District, said the nocturnal wildcat species is known worldwide for being endangered."All over the world, people are trying to protect what they have," Dr Ang said, adding that Bruneians should equally protect their wildlife, especially those that are endangered.

"I was told by some local hunters that they would kill them and sell their skin for several thousand US dollars," said Dr Ang.The researcher said it would be good if people were aware of the conservation status and the Wildlife Protection Act as this would help them to understand the importance of preserving the clouded leopards.The project leader of the Sg Ingei expedition, Dr Joseph Charles, senior lecturer at Universiti Brunei Darussalam's (UBD) Biology Department, said the practice of hunting and killing the animal needed to be stopped.
The researchers said the slain wildcat in Kg Merangking was believed to be a female leopard."This is really bad, it could be pregnant and this (the hunting) would stop reproduction (of the wildcats)," said Dr Charles, who added that hunting down clouded leopards, a protected animal under the Brunei Wildlife Protection Act, is a serious offence.

Under the Brunei Wildlife Protection Act (July 19, 1978, revised in 1984), the clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa) is a protected species. A provision of the Act states that no person shall sell or offer for sale or have in his possession any protected animal or any trophy or flesh thereof unless the same has been lawfully acquired.The penalty is imprisonment for a year and a fine of $2,000.
The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) in its website states that the clouded leopard is widely hunted for its teeth and decorative pelt, and its bones for the traditional Asian medicinal trade. Clouded leopard pelts have been reported on sale in the markets of China, Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Nepal and Thailand. Its meat has also been featured on the menu of restaurants in Thailand and China, that cater to wealthy Asian tourists. -- Courtesy of The Brunei Times

New Report on Threats to Clouded Leopards on Borneo

Scientific American features a report on the challenges the Sunda clouded leopard faces from deforestation and poaching.

Good News for Malaysian Clouded Leopards

The Malaysian government has announced a new law - the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010 - that will be inacted by the end of the year to significantly increase penalties for poaching and other wildlife-related crimes.

In an effort to deter the poaching of Malaysia's rare and protected species, the law enacts a maximum fine of RM 100,000 (31,000 US dollars) and five years in jail for killing a female or young clouded leopard, Sumatran rhino, Malay tiger,or any protected wildlife. The maximum fine drops to RM 50,000 (15,500 US dollars) for male animals. In addition, for the first time setting snares, hunting, or keeping certain species captive—such as rhinos and tigers—comes with mandatory jail time.

Like all wildlife laws, its efficacy will depend on the commitment of wildlife and court officials for enforcement. Hopefully Malaysia will demonstrate strong leadership in this realm for other Southeast Asian countries to emulate to save the region's rapidly vanishing wildlife.

Clouded Leopard Storybook Published

If you have followed this blog for a while, you know I have long been talking about the bilingual clouded leopard storybook I've been working on. At long last, we have the published books, hot off the presses!

This 30 page storybook is written in both Thai and English and is being distributed free of charge to students in Thailand. Proceeds from the sale of the book support the development of educational materials and programming for communities living near crucial clouded leopard habitat.

The book takes the reader on a journey into Thailand's rainforest with a wildlife researcher to uncover the mysterious ways of the clouded leopard. We follow him as he discovers the secret to protecting this amazing wild cat in its tropical home. The story is supported by the amazing illustrations of Heather Hudson, a Seattle artist. We are both very pleased with the result of our collaboration!

A Malay/English verion of the book is currently being published in Borneo for distribution there as well. We anticipate that additional versions will also be produced in the near future.

If you'd like a copy, just visit the CLP's online store to purchase. We really appreciate the support!

2010 Grant Awards

The Clouded Leopard Project and the Point Defiance Zoo Society partner each year to provide grant funding to further our common mission of learning about and conserving clouded leopards and other Southeast Asia small felids. It was exciting to receive many proposals this year relating to these species. We applaud these researchers and conservationists for their efforts!

The following projects received funding:

Consequences of different forest management strategies for clouded leopards and other felids and viverrids in Sabah, Malaysia.

Ranging behavior, and demography of a little known solitary felid: An intensive, long-term camera-trap investigation of the Ulu Segama Sunda clouded leopard population (Malaysia).

The Clouded Leopards and Small Cats of Sumatra: Conflict Mitigation in the Face of a Quickly Rising Human Population.

Conservation Genetics of Threatened and Endangered Bornean Wild Cats in Sabah, Malaysia.

Status & Conservation Needs of the Sunda Clouded Leopard on Borneo.

Survey for Small Felid Species in Select Thailand Reserves and Evidence for Competitive Exclusion by Larger Felids.

Sabangau Felid Project, Borneo, Indonesia.

Wild Cats Education Week Festival, Kerinci Seblat National Park, Sumatra, Indonesia.

Southeast Asia Wild Cat Education Initiative.

Community Outreach Support in Thailand’s Dong Phayayen-Khao Yai Forest Complex.

Clouded Leopard Conservation in Assam, India

As we near the end of 2009, we have been receiving progress reports from several of our grant recipients. One is from Karabi Deka and Jimmy Borah whose project, “Status, distribution, and ecology of small cats in Assam, India with a focus on the clouded leopard as a flagship species,” received funding from the CLP. This is the first project we have supported outside of our usual area of emphasis in Southeast Asia. We received a number of requests for India-based projects this year. In fact, we had an all-time high number of proposals submitted in 2009. Although we wish we weren’t so limited in our ability to provide support, it’s exciting to see how the number of clouded leopard and small cat field efforts has boomed over the last few years. With such dedication to uncovering the ecology of these cats and bringing much needed awareness to local communities we are confident that the clouded leopard and other small felids have a promising future.

While the tiger and leopard have been long-studied in Northeast India, Karabi and Jimmy’s team has been investigating the six species of rarely-studied small wild cats in the region. Their work takes a multifaceted approach comprised of ecological research, conservation awareness, and training in field techniques. The team has already conducted educational presentations for elementary and college students as well as community members in areas surrounding protected areas in which their research is taking place. The college students are also trained in basic field techniques and provide assistance in the field.

The team has also produced and disseminated a Field Guide to the Small Cats of Assam and a poster to raise awareness of these species, most of which are completely unknown to local people. They also participated in a training program for members of the Assam Forest Department staff to learn wildlife monitoring techniques.

The team also initiated a camera trapping project in Nameri National Park. They are having some difficulty with access (no roads!) and interference by elephants (!) but trapping is ongoing. To augment the trapping data, Karabi and Jimmy have compiled secondary information from the Forest Department, local NGOs, and community members to document cat sightings. We will be posting their entire progress report on the website and wish them great success in the continuation of their conservation efforts.

Art Showing for The Clouded Leopard's Secret Storybook

Now that all the illustrations have been completed for our storybook, artist Heather Hudson stopped by the Zoo to show us all the original pieces. It was exciting to see the full-size versions of her amazing work, especially since I have witnessed the evolution of the pieces from idea to sketch to color draft to the finished product. Although it is purely Heather's artistry, I can't help but feel a close attachment to the work!

The amount of time and effort Heather invested in this project went well beyond my (and her!) expectations. I'm so pleased I selected Heather to be the illustrator for this book; I can't imagine anyone else being so dedicated to getting the images so right by both her and my standards. I'm sure I drove her crazy with some of the tiny details (tweaking a paw here, slimming a belly there) but she never complained. It was definitely a privilege working with her!

We hope to wrap up the graphic design and final translation within a month or so, then off it goes to print. I really can't wait to get this beautiful book in my hands and share it with the students in clouded leopard range countries!

Clouded Leopard Summit Report

The report from the Clouded Leopard and Small Felid Summit convened in January is now available. Visit the main Clouded Leopard Project website and check under Conservation and Research section or use this link to download the full report.

Great Cats and Rare Canids Act Passes the House!

Yesterday, on the 39th Earth Day, the U.S. House of Representatives voted 290 to 118 to pass the Great Cats and Rare Canids Act. This act would provide millions of dollars in conservation funding annually to study and protect twelve species of wild cats and dogs globally, including clouded leopards, cheetahs, snow leopards, and African wild dogs. The bill aims to support efforts to lessen poaching and smuggling, protect critical habitat, and support education related to these species in their native ranges. If enacted, the bill will have the potential to provide additional funding to efforts such as those undertaken by the Clouded Leopard Project.

The act previously passed in the House in 2008, but never advanced for a vote in the Senate. We are optimistic that in 2009 it will pass the Senate and be signed into law by the President.

The Clouded Leopard Project extends its gratitude to Washington state Congressman Jay Inslee for sponsoring this crucial piece of legislation to protect clouded leopards and other rare cats and canids.

Clouded Leopard Conservation Summit Wrap Up

Now that I've finally had a chance to catch up on tasks resulting from our recent Clouded Leopard and Small Felid Conservation Summit I wanted to provide a final wrap-up post. We are still compiling all of the information gathered at the meeting and will be issuing a final report in approximately six weeks.

I can tell you that we definitely met several of our objectives for the Summit. One of the most important was getting all of the people together who are working independently on felid issues throughout the region. It was wonderful to see the information sharing and connecting that took place. Many of the field researchers left with plans in place for future collaboration on projects and research methods that will have long-term benefits for increasing our knowledge about these cats.

During the meeting, participants divided into regional working groups to identify critical issues and develop action steps to address them. There were two overriding actions identified by all groups. One was the need for more studies to address the significant gaps in knowledge that still exist about these species in the wild. Because we are so data deficient on these cats - in some cases not even knowing where each species can even be found - major work in the field is still needed. The other glaring issue identified is the need for educational intervention to increase awareness about cats and their conservation needs for audiences throughout Southeast Asia. This includes audiences from the community level all the way up to those in positions of authority in regional and national governments who have the ability to tighten and enforce laws as well as promote field work and educational programming.

We are excited about the Clouded Leopard Project’s future role in addressing these issues. We plan to develop a comprehensive wild cat curriculum in partnership with educators from the region. Because of the generous support we received for the meeting, we have funds remaining to help us begin instituting this effort.

We will post the complete Summit report on the website when it is available and will also continue to keep all of our supporters apprised of our ongoing efforts on behalf of clouded leopards and the other endangered cats of Southeast Asia.

Clouded Leopard and Small Felid Conservation Summit

The Summit is fast approaching! Registrations have come in and it looks like we will have 40-50 people attending the meeting from a wide variety of countries, disciplines, and organizations. We are also very appreciative of the generosity of our sponsors including Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium, Smithsonian's National Zoo, Cincinnati Zoo, Nashville Zoo, Aspinall Foundation, Thailand Zoological Parks Organization, the Thailand Department of National Parks, and Clouded Leopard Project donors. Because of this sponsorship, we will be able to provide funding for clouded leopard range country participants to attend the meeting. Having conservationists from these regions contributing to the meeting is absolutely critical for the long-term success of any resulting initiatives.

We have asked participants as well as other researchers unable to attend to share their data on clouded leopards and other felids prior to the meeting. This information will be compiled by Dr. David Reed at the University of Mississippi and will contribute to updating range maps and be used for some preliminary population modeling at the Summit. We have lots more planning to do before we head to Bangkok at the end of January and I look forward to sharing the meeting outcomes both on the blog and with an in-depth report published on the website.

What's Driving the Wildlife Trade?

A report issued by TRAFFIC and the World Bank examines the factors influencing the illegal and unsustainable wildlife trade in Southeast Asia. Most of the experts consulted in the study cite the rising affluence of Asian consumers as a major driver in the demand for wildlife products. The results of the study show that expert opinion is mixed on the best ways to solve the complex problem. Some believe that greater enforcement is key, while others believe that reducing demand by influencing buyers' perceptions is the way to ultimately reduce trade. The entire report is available for download on the TRAFFIC website.

The Wild Cat Trade in Myanmar

Photos by Chris Shepherd, TRAFFIC Southeast Asia

A new report issued today by TRAFFIC Southeast Asia documents the trade in wild cat parts in four markets in Myanmar. The results of twelve surveys of these markets from 1991-1998 uncovered 1320 items representing all eight of the wild cat species found in Myanmar. These items represented a minimum of 1158 individual animals. The most frequently found items were whole skins followed by canine teeth and skulls. The majority of the cat parts were found in the notorious Tachilek Market at the border of Myanmar and Thailand. This has long been a hot spot of illegal wildlife trade. Among the cat parts identified were 301 from clouded leopards, representing a minimum of 279 individuals. The entire report, The Wild Cat Trade in Myanmar, can be downloaded on the TRAFFIC website.

Great Cat and Rare Canid Act Moves Forward

A hopeful step forward for clouded leopard conservation took place on September 17 when the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee unanimously voted to pass the Great Cat and Rare Canid Act. This act would provide funding for conservation efforts on behalf of a variety of wild cat and wild dog species around the world. Clouded leopards and Borneo bay cats are the Southeast Asian felids specifically targeted for receiving resources under this legislation so there is exciting potential for funding new projects if passage occurs. The bill was passed by the House of Representatives on May 20 and will be moving to the full Senate for a vote. Because of a change made to the bill, if it passes in the Senate it will return to the House for another vote. This highly anticipated legislation was originally introduced in the fall of 2006 and was modeled on other legislation already supporting the conservation of tigers, rhinos, great apes, elephants, and sea turtles. You can read the full text of the bill here.

Wildlife Conservation Expo

The Wildlife Conservation Network (WCN) will be hosting their annual Wildlife Conservation Expo on Saturday, October 4 from 10am-6pm at the Mission Bay Conference Center in San Francisco, CA. The Clouded Leopard Project will be an exhibitor at the conference, promoting our conservation efforts and raising funds through merchandise sales. If you are in the Bay Area you shouldn't miss this great event. There are a large number of conservationists that give fascinating presentations about their work as well as many booths representing a wide variety of conservation causes. For details on the event, check out www.wildnet.org. We are very appreciative that WCN has invited us to participate for the third time. Stop by our booth and say hello!