Clouded leopard

Orchid and Banyan are sister and brother, born here at the Zoo on May 12, 2015. They live together and get along really well. Orchid is smaller and a little shyer, says assistant curator Maureen O’Keefe, but when she walks onto the Wild Wonders stage you would never know – she’s a pro at the climbing, balancing and leaping that show off a clouded leopard’s natural wild abilities.

Orchid is great at a couple of other behaviors, say staff, like coming when her bell is rung or sitting with all four feet on a perch to allow keepers to put a leash on her for the show.

But one of her favorite places is up high on the highest platform in her outdoor yard – around 12 feet high – to survey her territory.

Banyan and Orchid are brother and sister, born here at the Zoo on May 12, 2015. They live together and get along really well. Banyan is around 20 pounds heavier than his sister, and is super-talkative, says assistant curator Maureen O’Keefe.

“He chuffs and whines a lot as we come by,” she says. Since he was hand-raised, he also loves getting scratched behind his ears – a cat favorite.

Like Orchid, Banyan is great at the climbing, balancing and leaping he does in the Wild Wonders show that display a clouded leopard’s natural wild abilities. He’s also good at allowing staff to take a blood sample – really important for keeping animals healthy.

Banyan loves eating fruit whole for an enrichment treat, and is just a little goofy, says staff biologist Jessie Sutherland. But basically, says O’Keefe, he’s just a big sweetheart.

Jao Ying was born May 30, 2007. She really likes playing with greenery, especially bamboo, says assistant curator Shannon Smith.

“She carries green stuff from the outdoor habitat back to her resting room and decorates it,” says Smith.

Nah Fun was born July 15, 2009, and he’s unusually gentle – for a cat.

“Once a baby opossum got into his habitat,” says assistant curator Shannon Smith, “and he was grooming it when we found them together in the morning.”

Like the other male clouded leopards in the Asian Forest Sanctuary, Nah Fun likes hanging out by the beam-like log (the girls prefer being near the tree).

Sang Dao was born on March 27, 2013.

“She doesn’t seem like a typical cloudie,” says assistant curator Shannon Smith. “When she gets excited she runs all over the place.”

Her climbing ability is also pretty unusual, says Smith. All clouded leopards are excellent at this skill, using their long tail for balance and even hanging upside down. But Sang Dao can do it even when there seemingly aren’t any handholds – like an indoor skylight.

“She’s like Spider Man,” Smith says. “And she just loves attention, too.”

Chai Li was born July 12, 2009, and is a “very quiet kitty,” according to assistant curator Shannon Smith. She is very shy around people she doesn’t know, so usually stays indoors during the day and goes out into the habitat after all Zoo visitors have left.