After being thought extinct for over three decades, a species of leopard has been discovered in Taiwan. The Formosan Leopard, also known as the Taiwan Clouded Leopard, was spotted by several witnesses, including wildlife rangers who were patrolling the wilderness in Southeast Taiwan. According to reports, the leopard was seen hunting goats on a cliff in Daren Township in the Taitung district. The Taitung District Office of the Chinese Forestry Bureau has launched an investigation to confirm the sighting of the leopard, which has been officially declared extinct since 2013.
Since 2018, rangers have been regularly patrolling the area in search of the supposedly extinct leopard species. Two other groups of rangers have also reported sightings of the Taiwan Clouded Leopard during their patrols. However, there is currently no concrete evidence to confirm that the leopard spotted is indeed the Formosan Leopard. Hunting in the area where the leopard was spotted is prohibited, and the Tawu Mountain Nature Reserve, where the leopard was seen, is a protected area covering approximately 480 square kilometers.
The Formosan Leopard was first discovered in the 13th century and retreated to the Yushan Mountains and the Tawu Mountain area after extensive deforestation of their habitat. The Tawu Mountain Nature Reserve is home to a variety of flora and fauna, including subtropical and tropical rainforests, as well as mixed, deciduous, and coniferous forests. The leopard’s unique fur made it a target for poachers, which contributed to its decline in numbers. The discovery of the Taiwan Clouded Leopard is a significant development in conservation efforts and highlights the importance of protecting endangered species and their habitats.
