Brian and Josie
For many years, zoologists believed there was a single species of clouded leopard, the smallest and most arboreal of the large cats, weighing between twenty-six and fifty-five pounds. Two decades ago, zoologists split clouded leopards into two behaviorally similar species: the clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa) and the Sunda clouded leopard (Neofelis diardi). Clouded leopards are amazing, solitary carnivores; principally arboreal, hunting small mammals, birds, and reptiles. They are the only cats in the world that are said to run along the top or hang upside down from branches, using their long bushy tails for balance, and they climb down trees headfirst. Even more interesting, their canine teeth are the same length as those of a tiger, although tigers are ten times their size. They are an old species, according to paleozoologists, one of the first felids to diverge from the original feline ancestral species.
Combined, the two species of clouded leopards may number only 10,000 animals in the wild. Folks with limited understanding of conservation might think, well, that’s a lot! It isn’t. Their populations are fragmented, in areas with some of the largest human population explosions on earth, some of the most severe abject poverty, and areas that are highly vulnerable to the effects of climate change and deforestation. Additionally, when populations are small, a single novel disease or disaster can drive the species to extinction, and they continue to be subjected to continual illegal hunting for the fur trade.
The fragility of the clouded leopard’s future means every clouded leopard living within the protection of zoological facilities is genetically valuable. Introducing male and female leopards is fraught with danger. Males often attack females, often leading to female fatalities. As a result, a common strategy is introducing the males and females when they are young to reduce aggression and encourage female survival.
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My lovely wife, Sally, and I were employed at the Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium and the Zoo was interested in obtaining a six-week-old, male, clouded leopard cub. Raja was born at a small California endangered species breeding facility to a first-time mother. Like many first-time felid mothers, Raja’s did not properly care for Raja. He required hand-rearing, complicated by some ocular abnormalities that lead to the development of cataracts in both eyes, necessitating the instillation of medicated drops into both eyes. Raja stayed in the veterinary office at the Zoo during the workday, which I shared with Dr. Holly. Karen Povey, our lead on the development of interpretive animal programming, and Sally cared for Raja during the day, but he came home with us at night. This was necessary because Raja underwent cataract surgery by veterinary ophthalmologist, Dr. Penny Coolie. Subsequently, Raja continue to require the instillation of drops into his eyes every four to six hours. ***
Raja in the house was not like having a domestic cat in the house. He was wild! He roamed the house, cohabitating with our dogs, Phinney, the black and brown Gordon Setter, Splash, the Golden Retriever, and Pepper, our first Bernese Mountain Dog. Raja was not a cat! He was a leopard, hiding around corners, on top of furniture, approaching the dogs and humans with uncanny stealth, leaping upon his selected victim with great enthusiasm, even silently appearing behind you in the shower. Phinney and Splash scurried off, but not Pepper. Although the youngest, Pepper, ran the pack. She corralled Raja, holding him gently against the carpet with one foot and smiled. After all, he was just a cat.
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A female clouded leopard cub, Josie, was born at the Cleveland Zoo, and a breeding loan was arranged to bring Josie to the Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium to pair with Raja. Travelling to Cleveland, on Halloween 1997, I brought Josie home in a small pet carrier that fit under the seat in front of me on the aircraft. Arriving at home, I set Josie’s small kennel on top of the dining room table. Phinney came in, pressed his nose against the kennel wire, and furiously wagged his tail! Sally, “When Raja was in the house, Phinney didn’t care about him. He was smitten with Josie from the time she came through the front door.”
Over the next few months Josie spent with us, Phinney remained infatuated. Each night when the Josie-containing Varikennel returned home from the Zoo Phinney followed closely us into the house, tail wagging wildly. Josie was home! Occasionally, Josie ambushed Phinney, leaping upon his side, digging her claws from all four feet into this side. A Gordon setter, running by, tail wagging, with a clouded leopard cub velcroed to his side, well, you just can’t make that up!
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Hand-raising carnivores is not generally the best strategy to achieve normal reproductive behavior when the animals mature. However, in a species like the clouded leopard, every cub matters. Hand raising Raja and Josie gave us the opportunity to more safely introduce the pair and to use them for conservation education.
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Brian & Raja
Raja had a much stronger relationship with Sally. He perceived her as mom. His relationship with me included more rough housing. He was always glad to see me, but after a few minutes of calmness, he wanted to rough house. The backs of my hands have many scars from his teeth and claws.
Josie and I had a much stronger relationship. Sometimes when the Zoo closed, Josie would refuse to come off exhibit into the safety of her bedroom. The keepers would call me, and I would place Josie’s collar around her neck, attach her leash and lead her to her bedroom. Even after she had been in the Zoo for a few years, if I entered her exhibit, sat down, she would crawl into my lap and not want me to leave.
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I occasionally stopped to visit the pair of clouded leopards and our former colleagues in the years after we left the Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium. My last visit with Josie took place in middle of the second decade of the 21st century. We were living in Winnipeg, but my Army veterinary unit was located at Joint Base Lewis McChord in Tacoma, Washington. This meant that I travelled back to JBLM once or twice per month for training, planning or execution of missions. Josie always remembered me, although she had lost her sight the last year of her life. Hearing my voice, Josie consistently trotted to its sounds and pressed her head against the age wire for me to rub her head. Excepting our domestic cat, Kitten Anne, I have never had a strong relationship with a cat than mine with Josie. Since we kept in touch with our former colleagues at the Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium, we knew Josie’s time was drawing to a close. I was on my way to a mission somewhere in the world but made time to stop by the Zoo to say one last goodbye. I hadn’t seen Josie for at least a year. At the sound of my voice, she trotted over, crouched, pressed her head against the wire, and closed her eyes as I gently petted her with one finger on top of her head. I didn’t want to stop. I didn’t want to leave, but not wanting to intrude on the animal keepers’ time, I said my last goodbye. Last goodbyes are very hard for me, but it is a privilege to have the opportunity to say goodbye. My life has been privileged to be filled with caring, passionate people, and interesting animals. I am a lucky person.
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