With predictions that as many as half of the Earth's species will disappear within the next 100 years (see The End of the Wild by Stephen Meyer), it's nice when a new species has been 'discovered'. The clouded leopard of Borneo, according to genetic testing, is a completely new species of cat (see this article at the World Wildlife Fund). At last some good news for biodiversity! Borneo, a large island in southeast Asia, is home to a huge range of unique species, including a large number of highly unusual mammals.
The MIT Press recently released a richly illustrated book, Wild Borneo, about the wildlife of this island. The book includes a photograph of the newly distinct clouded leopard.
For a link to a video of the clouded leopard in action, look at this post on "the Sietch Blog". The Discovery Channel site has an interesting expedition diary of borneo, and "Borneo Pit Stop" is a personal journal of someone who lives in Borneo. And to hear a podcast about recent laws to protect 220 thousand square-kilometres of rainforest in Borneo, visit this Radio Australia link.
Comments