Snares in Cambodia claim another victim: a clouded leopard. The cat was snared in Kampot province. The young male was removed from a snare and later taken in by local police. On 16 July, Wildlife Alliance heard about the clouded leopard and went to help the animal.

It is uncertain how long the animal was trapped in the snare. Following this, captors tied the clouded leopard’s legs, head and jaws for two days, before local police heard about the cat and intervened. By this time, the clouded leopard had likely not been able to eat or drink for a week or more.

Nick Marx, Director of Wildlife Alliance’s Wildlife Rescue and Care described the poor condition of the cat, a young male. “The clouded leopard was very weak and very frightened,” he said. The animal was weak, wounded and dehydrated due to being without food and water for so long.

The clouded leopard was transported to Phnom Tamao Wildlife Rescue Centre where he received professional veterinarian care. While the treatment was successful, sadly, the clouded leopard died two days later.

“Snared animals require immediate treatment,” said Marx. While every effort was made to save the clouded leopard, his weakened state meant this was not possible.
In Cambodia, few clouded leopards survive. Under Cambodian law, they are an Endangered species and it is illegal to hunt them.

The death of this clouded leopard is also a reminder of the threat of snares. In a recent video, Marx describes the news of his death as “due to the snare epidemic that is sweeping through the forests throughout Cambodia.”

Clouded leopards are not the only species which face the deadly consequences of snares. Last month, hikers reported an injured gaur in Phnom Aural Wildlife Sanctuary to Wildlife Alliance. The gaur had lost part of a leg to a snare and died some weeks later as it lay powerless on the mountain side. As with the clouded leopard, although every effort was made, it was too late to save the gaur.

These deaths are not uncommon. “Most animals caught in snares die due to their injuries,” said Marx. “They die slow and painful deaths, either in the snare or from their injuries.”

Snares are a threat to all wildlife “because they can kill animals indiscriminately, including threatened species,” said Marx. In Cambodia, snares catch many animals, including threatened species like clouded leopards.

For Marx, the risk of snaring is clear, and urgent action is required before it is too late. “If stronger legislation cannot be implemented and stricter penalties applied to stop this method of hunting,” he said “Cambodian forests will have zero wildlife left.”

For more, read our latest blog:
https://www.wildlifealliance.org/snared-clouded-leopard-dies-from-injuries/

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