Kid Territory:Critters: Clouded Leopard Sisters
It's nice to have a sister to snuggle up to! Dottie rests her head on Tevi as
they curl up in their den.
Tevi checks out a tasty bone. Having a bone to chew on once a week helps the
cats keep their teeth clean and healthy.
Tevi seems to be thinking, "What is that peacock doing on top of my enclosure,
and how can I get at it?"
The clouded leopard is an endangered cat native to the rain forest areas
of Southeast Asia.
Zoo names: Dottie and Tevi
Species: Clouded
leopard
Location: San
Diego Zoo's Monkey Trails and Forest Tales
Their story
On February 19, 2002 two female clouded leopards were born at the Nashville Zoo. They were named Dottie and Tevi and hand-raised by the keepers at that zoo. Many of the keepers there were women, and one of them even brought the girls home with her several times when they were very young. So the sisters became most comfortable around women keepers. However, when they moved to the San Diego Zoo almost three years later, they were introduced to a new staff of keepers. One of their keepers is male and at first, the clouded leopard sisters were either shy or somewhat hissy and aggressive towards him. Much to his credit, he patiently and consistently worked with these cats until they now trust him as much as their female keepers.
Moving day
The pair is currently living in the San Diego Zoo's Monkey Trails and Forest Tales habitat. Their first day ever in their enclosure was when Monkey Trails opened in May 2005. Dottie and Tevi had not been on exhibit at the Nashville Zoo, and then lived up at the San Diego Zoo’s hospital for a few months before their new enclosure was ready for them. They were very cautious and somewhat shy when first exposed to their new situation. The sisters spent most of the time hiding from their adoring public and seeking shelter as they would do in the wild if they felt uncertain about a situation. Gradually, however, Dottie and Tevi started exploring more of their new home and now actually prefer being out in their public enclosure rather than going into the back bedroom area.
It smells like fun!
Their keepers give the sisters quite a number of enrichment items to keep them having fun and exploring their home. Some of their favorite enrichment includes hair shed from our camels and takins, cardboard boxes and bags with treats inside, and hard-boiled eggs. The clever cats even peel the shell off their eggs before they eat them! Their keepers also claim that new scents are often used to keep the girls’ senses stimulated. For example, one of their favorites is perfume! Keepers witness the girls rolling and rubbing all over the parts of their enclosure that have been sprayed with the perfume. Since keepers often deal with unpleasant smells, they confess they don’t mind one bit caring for cats that smell so nice!
Come on in, Mr. Peacock
Some unexpected enrichment arrived one day when four of the Zoo’s peacocks landed on the top of the leopards’ enclosure. The girls performed all sorts of amazing acrobatic feats attempting to get to the peacocks. One keeper recalls seeing them hanging upside down from branches solely by their back feet while trying to reach a peacock.
Which is which?
The two sisters look very similar and telling them apart can be difficult. However, keepers say Dottie is slightly larger and heavier than Tevi . Also, Dottie has a small spot above her right eye, and Tevi has a straight line over her right eye resembling an eyebrow. They are now sexually mature, but will most likely not be bred even though their species is endangered. Over the years, keepers have learned that male clouded leopards will often become aggressive towards the females unless they were introduced to each other as cubs. The sisters have an excellent relationship with each other and since they are both young and healthy, it is likely they will both be here at the San Diego Zoo for many years to come.
Where you can see them
To catch them when they’re most active, try viewing Tevi and Dottie in the early morning or early evening. They can often be found prowling around their enclosure and, due to their arboreal nature, climbing the trees in their home.
More
Animal Bytes: Clouded Leopard, Camel, Takin, Peacock
San Diego Zoo: Monkey Trials and Forest Tales
