Clouded in mystery: the global trade in clouded leopards

Neil D’Cruze,David W Macdonald

doi:10.1007/s10531-015-1010-9

Neil D’Cruze, David W Macdonald

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-015-1010-9

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Abstract

In the first global review focused specifically on clouded leopard trade, we assess its impact on the basis of information gathered from annual CITES reports, literature and expert opinion. Although international and domestic trade regulations are in place, in ‘exceptional circumstances’ trade in Asian big cats is legally permitted. More generally, and irrespective of its legal status, trade also has potential to compromise wild animal welfare. We report an apparent shift toward commercial trade in captive bred clouded leopards, trade irregularities that point toward possible laundering of wild caught animals, and document the presence of individuals on ‘tiger farms’ in south-east Asia and a ‘lion park’ in South Africa. We found CITES records contradictory and incomplete, with data on source country particularly lacking. This study highlights ‘legal loopholes’ that apply to all Asian big cat species. As a precautionary measure, we support calls to extend existing bans on Asian big cat trade so that they include commercial trade in captive bred individuals. Illegal trade in derivatives can openly be observed online and at wildlife markets in range countries where enforcement is weak. However, an energetic search has revealed that specific information regarding clouded leopards is lacking. We argue that this is not grounds for complacency, but rather suggests a need for research into trade dynamics, cooperation between national enforcement agencies, improved compliance with trade data management systems, the destruction of private held stockpiles and the revision of existing legal frameworks to prevent illegal trade in these and other threatened wild felids.

Highlights

Demand for felids is not new; the allure of their fur and teeth as decorative items can probably be traced back to the first humans brave enough to slay a large fearsome predator (Nowell and Jackson 1996) and the social cachet of adornment with felid derivatives is still apparent in many cultures (Fitzherbert et al 2014)
We report an apparent shift toward commercial trade in captive bred clouded leopards, trade irregularities that point toward possible laundering of wild caught animals, and document the presence of individuals on ‘tiger farms’ in south-east Asia and a ‘lion park’ in South Africa
During the period 1975 and 2013 a total of 316 separate clouded leopard trade records was officially received by CITES according to the comparative tabulation report (Appendix of ESM 1)

Summary

Introduction

Demand for felids is not new; the allure of their fur and teeth as decorative items can probably be traced back to the first humans brave enough to slay a large fearsome predator (Nowell and Jackson 1996) and the social cachet of adornment with felid derivatives is still apparent in many cultures (Fitzherbert et al 2014). At least 2000 years old, ancient Asian texts document the perceived medicinal and spiritual properties of their derivatives (Nowell and Jackson 1996) and felid body parts feature prominently in illegal wildlife trade to this day (Dutton et al 2013). Considered a single species (Neofelis nebulosa), clouded leopards have recently been split into two distinctive species. The Sunda clouded leopard (Neofelis diardi) of Sumatra and Borneo was recently given specific status based on analysis of mitochondrial DNA, microsatellites and morphology (Buckley-Beason et al 2006; Kitchener et al 2006). It is thought that the Sunda clouded leopard diverged from its mainland counterpart [which is referred to as the clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa)] approximately 1.5 million years ago due to geographic isolation (Kitchener et al 2006)

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