Conservation agency saves Sunda clouded leopard

The Jakarta Post, West Sumatra | Archipelago | Wed, October 17 2012, 4:53 PM

West Sumatra Natural Resource Conservation Agency (BKSDA) saved a Sunda clouded leopard (Neofelis diardi), which had been stuck between two tree branches for at least three days, in Solok early on Wednesday.

The agency’s officers, assisted by local police officers, should shoot the leopard with an anesthetic dart before freeing him.

“It would be easier to check the leopard’s condition if he is anesthetized,” BKSDA officer Safril Suharto told tribunnews.com.

Safri said that the leopard had been stuck for days and was in critical condition when found by the officers.

“He did not get enough food,” said Safri, “but, he still showed enough strength to threaten us, so we needed to dart him.”

Safri said the agency would take the leopard, which is a solitary creature, to Bukit Tinggi zoo for medical checkup and treatment. “We will release the animal when he is strong enough,” he said.

Several days ago, the  Sunda clouded leopard entered farms in Lembang Jaya district in Solok, West Sumatra. The animal climbed the tree as residents tried to drive it away but got stuck between two branches.

Sunda clouded leopard, which is named after the cloud-shaped rosettes on its pelt, is an advance tree climber and spends up to 80 percent of its life in the trees. The creature is found in forests of Sumatra, Kalimantan and Sabah in Malaysia. Local residents call the leopard the “tree tiger”. (lfr)