Just to let everyone have a little sneak peak of what’s coming up within the next few weeks. a4tripians are working hard to make sure that more travel guides are going to be released and ready for sale by these coming weeks. So, that means more varieties of travel guides (in terms of different places and different languages) will be available for everyone’s convenience.

So, guidebooks that are currently ready and on sale are:

Cambodia - Siem Reap English Travel Guide

Cambodia - Pnom Penh English Travel Guide

Also, we have just launched our:

Indonesia - Yogyakarta English Travel Guide

Apart from these which are already launched and on sale, we have a few draft travel guides on sale such as:

Cambodia - Siem Reap French Travel Guide (Draft Version)

China - Beijing English Travel Guide (Draft Version)

China - Beijing Chinese Travel Guide (Draft Version)

Of course, there are other travel guides which aren’t ready yet as some of them are still under the proof reading stage. For example:

Cambodia - Siem Reap Japanese Travel Guide
Vietnam - Hanoi English Travel Guide

With all these goodies coming out soon, it looks like Christmas might be arriving a little earlier than expected

Surprising new research reveals the existence of two completely separate species of clouded leopards. In a study comparing differences in clouded leopard coat patterns and coloration throughout the cat’s range, researchers concluded that individuals found on the islands of Borneo and Sumatra are markedly different from animals found on the Southeast Asian mainland. These observations have been supported by genetic testing that determined the two populations of clouded leopards are so distinct as to warrant classifying them as different species. Researchers estimate that the two species diverged approximately 1.5 million years ago due to geographical isolation.

Instead of their prior classification as a clouded leopard subspecies (Neofelis nebulosa diardi), animals in Borneo and Sumatra would be re-classified as a new species, Neofelis diardi, possibly to be named the Sundaland clouded leopard.

The coat patterns of clouded leopards from Borneo and Sumatra differ from mainland animals by having smaller and darker cloud markings and a darker overall coat color. Although these differences and the results of the genetic testing are convincing, researchers emphasize that more study is still needed. Only three samples from Borneo were analyzed so more individuals need to be examined to determine if the same conclusion can apply to the entire population.

Content and pictures courtesy of Advancing Clouded Leopard Conservation and Awareness

Melaka Zoo functions as the major ex-situ breeding center for PERHILITAN. Breeding clouded leopards is not an easy job. Mother leopards tend to abandon their young after they are born and sometimes may even turn violent on them. As a result, some zoos routinely hand-rear clouded leopard cubs to ensure their survival and well-being.

Newborn clouded leopard cubs are very small and helpless, weighing only about 6 ounces at birth. They are born with their eyes closed, no teeth, and unable to walk or move around. Newborn clouded leopards lack the ability to control their body temperature very well, so special attention has to be given to keep the cubs warm.

Pictures and Contents credited to The Clouded Leopard Project .
Continue reading for more information about Clouded Leopard Babies from gestation to birth to bringing them up.

Photo credited to David Ronaldson

Today’s focus is on the Clouded Leopard, also known as Neofelis nebulosa. Another species from the Cat family, the Clouded Leopard is significant because of its coat, which is marked with large irregularly-shaped, dark-edged ellipses that looked like clouds, thus its name. At about 22.7kg, the Clouded Leopard is not a big cat, with its size about 2-3ft.

The distribution map of the Clouded Leopard shows the origin of this species which is found mainly in southern China, the eastern Himalayas, north-east India and mainland Southeast Asia. The population is estimated at below 10000 mature breeding individuals (IUCN 2005) thus putting it under the ‘Threatened‘ or ‘Vulnerable‘ group of animals. The population’s decline is said to be due to widespread deforestation and hunting for use in Chinese medicinal preparations.

It is not too late to help the Cloud Leopard’s population grow again! On very practical thing all travellers should do is, before purchasing anything abroad, ask what it is made of. Do not buy products made of Cloud Leopard skins or herbs that contain it. Likewise to all other animals that are endangered.

a4trip is featuring Cloud Leopard in the Malacca Travel Guide, and part of that total sales will donate to Cloud Leopard conservation project. You can also make a direct contribution to organisations that are involved in Conservation of the Cloud Leopard, such as WWF Malaysia, Melaka Zoo and Wild Asia.