Female Clouded Leopard Cub Arrives at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium

She meets future mate, Tien, and the two will be raised together as a future breeding pair

TACOMA, Wash. – A 5 ½ month-old female clouded leopard cub arrived at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium Thursday afternoon to meet her future mate, Tien, a 4 ½-month-old born May 1 at the zoo.

The pair will be raised together with the aim of eventually breeding to further their endangered species. They are part of the Association of Zoos & Aquariums’ Species Survival Plan® for clouded leopards.

“This pair is critically important to the survival of the clouded leopard population,” zoo general curator Karen Goodrowe Beck said. “They are highly valuable to maintain genetic diversity among these Species Survival Plan® animals.”

The female cub, named Sang Dao (pronounced Sing Dow), came to Tacoma from Tanganyika Wildlife Park near Wichita, Kan.

Sang Dao is settling in well and zookeepers began the process of introducing her to Tien (pronounced Tee-N) on Thursday, Goodrowe Beck said.

“She’s a go-getter girl with high energy,” said senior staff biologist Andy Goldfarb, who’s worked extensively with the exotic cats for more than two decades.

Sang Dao will be visible to the public in the zoo’s Cub Den during zoo hours.  The pair will make intermittent appearances together in the same area as staff works with them during their introduction period. These will be scheduled as the animals become comfortable with each other. Staff will let visitors know when the pair will be together for viewing.

Clouded leopards typically breed at around 2 years old.

Sang Dao’s arrival brings to seven the number of clouded leopards at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium.

In addition to Tien and Sang Dao, the zoo is home to Tien’s parents, Chai Li (pronounced Chai-lye) and her mate Nah Fun (pronounced Nah-foon); Jao Ying and Chee Wit; and Josie. 

There are only 78 clouded leopards in AZA zoos in North America. Thirteen cubs were born this year as a result of Special Survival Plan® pairings. Another 18 clouded leopards live in non-AZA accredited zoos.

The highly endangered cats are shy and secretive, and it’s not known how many live in the wild. Their native habitat is in Southeast Asia, where massive clear-cutting for oil palm plantations threatens their populations.

Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium long has been a leader in global clouded leopard conservation efforts, with a successful breeding program at home, sharing of staff expertise in raising the exotic cats in Thailand and providing support for field conservation projects.

In addition, Tacoma zookeepers founded the nonprofit Clouded Leopard Project 13 years ago (www.cloudedleopard.org), and the group works closely with the zoo and The Zoo Society in fundraising efforts for conservation projects.

Photo captions:

Sang Dao and Tien get acquainted Friday at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium.

Sang Dao arrived at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium on Thursday.

Photo credit: Ingrid Barrentine/Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium