Clouded leopards are elusive, arboreal predators with specific welfare needs in captivity, including social pairing and extensive climbing infrastructure.
Clouded leopard welfare in captivity requires careful social management and extensive arboreal infrastructure. Unlike most felids, successful long-term pairing requires introducing animals as juveniles before social hierarchies are established. Adults introduced later frequently show fatal aggression. Enclosures must provide extensive climbing structures matching their arboreal lifestyle. Limited wild behavioral data makes welfare assessment challenging, but behavioral repertoire monitoring and stress indicators guide management. Their rarity and reproductive challenges make each individual important to population sustainability.