Walking Our Clouded Girls is Heavenly
Posted at 10:48 am November 14, 2005 by Maureen O. Duryee
Kya and Kilat are 8-year-old clouded leopards. Kya means ” treetop leopard” and Kilat means ” thunder and lightening” . They are sisters who live together in a large enclosure at the Hunte Amphitheater training compound. The best way to identify the difference between the two cats is simple and scientific: Kya wears a black collar around her neck and Kilat wears a turquoise collar!
Clouded leopards are one of the many endangered animal species the San Diego Zoo is known for exhibiting. There are two additional clouded leopard females that live in the Zoo’s new Monkey Trails and Forest Tales exhibit. The girls, as we fondly call them, are two of the most beautiful leopards in the world. They are frequently featured in the noon show at the Hunte Amphitheater on Sundays, Mondays, and Tuesdays.
Kya and Kilat love stage work because they have the opportunity to practice their long jumps. Another activity they are fond of is walking through the stadium early in the morning. The surrounding hillsides serve as our leopards’ playground. Our walks are directed by their interest and curiosity. Occasionally we will hike the steep hills behind our compound and end up on Horn & Hoof Mesa. The girls will climb different trees just to watch the pedestrians and busses go by. If it weren’t for their human companions on the other end of the leashes, their presence would go completely undetected. It’s humbling to realize our five senses are not as highly developed as the clouded leopards’.
Walking these active leopards can be compared to trying to walk an acrobatic flying bird on a leash. They will run very fast up a tree, then instantly straight down the tree, up the next tree, and then launch into the air, landing in another tree further away, all within a matter of seconds. It is extremely exciting! We trainers have to be on our toes, always watching the girls’ ears and eyes. This gives us information as to their next plan of action. Most walks are filled with wonderment, amazement, and just plain old gratitude””it is a thrill to be able to share experiences with these rare leopards.
Kya has a distinctive style; she is a bouncer. She’ll stay close to the ground, and then leap high into the air like a rabbit, before she pounces on her sister, a lizard, or whatever may have moved under the leaves. Kilat, on the other hand, is the athlete of the family. She can launch herself into the air, make a u-turn and land on some other unnoticed tree, all the while keeping an eye on her sister, so Kya doesn’t take her by surprise with the playful bunny pounce. Sound like fun?
We encourage you to come by to view the Wild Ones Show at Hunte Amphitheater and enjoy these beautiful clouded leopards for yourself. Hope to see you there soon.
Maureen O. Duryee is an animal trainer at the San Diego Zoo’s Hunte Amphitheater.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Scroll to the end to leave a comment. Pinging is not allowed.
November 14th, 2005 at 12:16 pm
What beautiful animals and so graceful, too. Thanks for the insight on them and good luck keeping up with them!
November 14th, 2005 at 1:15 pm
Thank you, Maureen. It sounds as if these breathtakingly beautiful cats contribute greatly to your keeping fit! And how wonderful to learn about their individuality. I have lived with many cats over the years and each one had its own distinctive personality. They were all very special and endearing and unforgettable. It must be thrilling and amazing to share moments with such rare and magical creatures. You are envied by many. Again, thank you so much for taking the time to share! Luv to All Judy J
November 14th, 2005 at 8:23 pm
Absolutely gorgeous cats! And you bring their characters to light with your blog. Are these leopards sucessfully bred in captivity? Can we save them – and their habitat – in the wild? It hurts so much to know that we are losing so many of the big predators all over the world.
November 15th, 2005 at 9:16 am
Like Judy J (blogger #2 above) I have had cats in my life for many years and love knowing each one for their distinctive personalities and beauty. Thanks for giving us some insight about Kya and Kilat and a huge thanks, too, for sharing a bit about your interaction with these incredible cats.