Sunda clouded leopard: status, range, size and diet
A darker, smaller-clouded relative of the clouded leopard found only on Borneo and Sumatra, listed as Vulnerable.
Also known as Neofelis diardi, Bornean clouded leopard, Diard's clouded leopard
At a glance
| Scientific name | Neofelis diardi |
|---|---|
| Group | Big cats |
| Weight | About 12-26 kg |
| Known for | Being recognised as a separate species from the mainland clouded leopard only in 2006. |
Status
| IUCN Red List category | Vulnerable |
|---|---|
| Assessed in | 2015 |
Where it lives
| Range | The islands of Borneo and Sumatra |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Lowland rainforest on Borneo, including logged forest, and hill and mountain forest on Sumatra |
| Diet | Bearded pigs, deer such as sambar and muntjac, mouse deer, porcupines and primates |
Main threats
- Deforestation and forest fires
- Illegal hunting
- Illegal wildlife trade
- Conversion of forest to plantations
About
The Sunda clouded leopard is the largest predator on the island of Borneo. For most of the twentieth century it was lumped together with the clouded leopard of the Asian mainland. In 2006 a study of genes, skulls and coat patterns showed that the island animals form a separate species. They are named after the Sunda Islands, the chain that includes both Borneo and Sumatra.
Compared with the mainland species, the Sunda clouded leopard has darker fur and a smaller pattern of clouds. Like its relative it has short legs, a long tail for balance and unusually long canine teeth, and it spends time both on the ground and in the trees.
Where it lives and what it eats
The species lives only on Borneo and Sumatra. On Borneo it is mostly an animal of lowland rainforest, but it also uses forest that has been logged, usually at lower density. On Sumatra it is found more often in hilly and mountain forest. Most of what is known comes from camera traps and a small number of radio-tracked animals, so its behaviour is less well documented than that of many other cats.
Reported prey includes bearded pigs, sambar and muntjac deer, mouse deer, porcupines and primates. Hunting appears to take place on the ground as well as in trees, and the cat is thought to be active mainly at night and at twilight.
Threats and conservation
The IUCN lists the species as Vulnerable, with a decreasing population trend, in an assessment completed in 2015. Forest loss is the major cause. Large areas of Borneo and Sumatra have been cleared for timber, plantations and farming, and fires in Kalimantan have burned more. Hunting for skins, teeth and bones and the live animal trade add to the pressure, and an unknown number are caught in snares set for other animals.
The cat is protected by law in Indonesia and Malaysia, and international trade is banned under CITES. Conservation work includes forest protection, camera-trap surveys in logging concessions and national parks, and efforts to reduce hunting in the areas where it still lives. Because it was only recently separated from the mainland species, there are fewer studies of it than for most cats of its size.
Cats and people
The Sunda clouded leopard seldom comes near people and is not known to attack them. Few people ever see one in the wild, and most records are photographs from camera traps. Its fate depends on how much forest remains on its two islands.
Profile last reviewed November 7, 2026