I couldn`t believe my eyes when I saw a clouded leopard crossing the road at midday in broad daylight on the drive out of Danum Valley, Sabah, Borneo. It was very relaxed and took its time before disappearing in the forest.
It walked across the street right in front of our car just a few meters away from me and it was much too large to be a marbled cat. The guide who was with me was 100% sure it was a clouded leopard. The fur pattern of both species can be very similar, especially since the Borneo clouded leopards have a more greyish fur color then the mainland species, but marbled cats are way smaller. However, I`d be very happy with a marbled cat too, since they are no way easier to see and fotograph then cloudies and probably as rare.
I`m starting to think Danum Valley is the best place in the world for spotting clouded leopards, someone who was there this year took this video: BBC Nature - Rare cat filmed up close in Borneo
(thanks Chlidonias for the link)
The facial marks look exactly like the one I fotographed.
