‘Extinct’ Taiwanese leopard spotted alive for the first time in over 30 years

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Unfortunately in the last few years the endangered animals list proved to be too small. Nevertheless, this time we got some great news as a wildlife species thought to be extinct, miraculously ‘came back to life.’ All after a group of people in Taiwan have spotted a Formosan clouded leopard, a species that has been declared extinct in 2013.

According to Wikipedia, the Formosan clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa brachyura) is a subspecies of clouded leopard endemic to the island of Taiwan. The rare feline was last spotted into the wild back in 1983 and with no officially sights since then, the species has been declared extinct in 2013.

According to Taiwan News, a group of rangers spotted the large feline in a region near Taitung County’s Daren Township. Among the locals, this animals holds a sacred status. Therefore, after whispers of animals’ reappearance, the Paiwan’s tribe chief said a meeting had been held to talk about how to keep humans away from their sacred spirit animal.

Despite it has been seen on several separate occasions, the official in Taiwan are reluctant when it comes to remove the clouded leopard from the endangered species list, Taiwan News reported. However, Liu Chiung-hsi, a professor of National Taitung University’s Department of Life Science, declared he has no doubts that the leopard has been indeed spotted. ” I believe this animal still does exist,” he told the Focus Taiwan News Channel.

The history of the Formosan clouded leopard remains shrouded in mystery, even to this day. The first historical records of this gorgeous feline date back to 13th century. However, it is is believed that Japanese anthropologist Torii Ryūzō, was the only non-indigenous person that have seen a live leopard. It happened in the 1900s.

Maybe it is time to all be aware of the importance of all species on Earth and to protect and take care of them, before it’s too late!

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