Extinct Species of Leopard Spotted for the First Time in Over 30 Years
For more than 30 years, the Formosan clouded leopard was treated like a lost cause, a species that had quietly vanished from the wild. Then came a few recent sightings in southeast Taiwan, and suddenly the story changed from extinction to possibility.
Locals reported seeing the elusive leopard again, including signs of it hunting goats near Alangyi Village. The animal was officially declared extinct in 2013, so every new report has drawn attention from people hoping the rare cat may still be out there.
Now the question is whether this long-missing leopard really returned, or never fully disappeared at all.
Here's a picture of the cute leopard!
National Geographic reported several sightings of the Formosan Clouded Leopard hunting goats in the southeast of the country. Since last June, Alangyi Village has had teams of rangers patrolling traditional areas. Two groups of rangers have seen the leopard, or, as the Paiwan call it, "Li' uljaw."
That is a huge shift for a species people thought was gone for good.
And if you think you have to wait forever for a glimpse, check out the footage of a snow leopard roaring in the wilderness.
Liu Chiung-hsi, a professor at the National Taitung University's Department of Life Sciences and an ecologist, believes the animal still exists. The clouded leopard is known to be agile and vigilant, so the fact that they are infrequently spotted is not surprising.
Professor Liu has investigated the clouded leopard in the past and noted that in the late 1990s, he spoke to hunters who admitted to hunting the animals on a few occasions. They burned the bodies, however, to avoid violating Taiwan's Wildlife Conservation Act.
The following photograph was taken around 1990 by Japanese anthropologist Torii Ryūzō. It depicts an indigenous Rukai man wearing what is assumed to be a vest made from the pelt of a Formosan Clouded Leopard.
The animals hold special significance for the Indigenous community, so although scientists want to investigate the existence of the Formosan Clouded Leopards, they will consult with the tribe to ensure respect for the area and the people.
Want more proof these leopards are still out there, see the high-altitude Himalayan forest sighting.
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