Project Neofelis
Megafauna are often the center of many mainstream conservation efforts, with charismatic species such as tigers, rhinos, pandas and elephants consistently receiving the greatest portion of public attention. Despite the fact every effort should be made to prevent the extinction of as many threatened and endangered animals as possible, it is often the most charismatic that continue to take the spotlight, heavily influencing where limited conservation resources are being directed. This bias in the allocation of conservation funds has been a reoccurring concern expressed by a growing number of conservation professionals.
Why Clouded Leopards?
With 12-15 tiger research and conservation efforts for every one-effort targeting clouded leopards, the species is a classic example of such situation. Clouded leopards have been overshadowed by charismatic Asian megafauna, and despite their status remaining unclear across both local and regional scales; they subsequently continue to fall through the cracks of mainstream conservation efforts.
The clouded leopard is in urgent need of conservation attention, with its range covering:
- 4 out of 10 countries with the world’s highest deforestation rates.
- 3 out of 10 countries producing the most palm oil.
- Numerous countries with heavy volumes of illegal poaching and wildlife trafficking.
Project Goals
S.P.E.C.I.E.S. believes that the unique ecological and behavioral adaptations of the clouded leopard, along with their distinctive appearance, make them an ideal candidate for a “flagship” species. We believe is so much that we chose this small “big cat” as our logo!
Through Project Neofelis, SPECIES aims to promote the clouded leopard as a flagship species, bringing much needed awareness and urgency to its conservation.
We aim to:
- Use clouded leopard camera trap ‘by-catch’ data to better inform conservation planning.
- Establish collaborative outreach projects and population surveys in every country throughout its range.
- Use our focus on clouded leopards as an example to emphasize the need for awareness and protection of smaller, more endangered, feline species including the bay cat (Catopuma badia), marbled cat (Pardofelis marmot) and flat-headed cat (Prionailurus planiceps).
- Connect the public with clouded leopards through social media, engaging video content, graphic design, and classroom education.
- Develop a professional network facilitating greater collaboration and information sharing among stakeholders.
How can you help?
Make a donation to S.P.E.C.I.E.S. to help support Project Neofelis. Your donation will go a long way to ensuring that our projects reach their full potential.
Or, you can spread the word using #ProjectNeofelis.