Cameras capture images of rare leopard: 19-08-2008
Cameras have captured images of a rare species of leopard in Borneo's Sebangua National Park, an area where they have not been recorded before.
According to reports from the BBC, the sighting adds further weight to claims that the region needs further protection from illegal logging and forest fires.
The camera images only start to record when movement activates them, increasing the chances of filming a rare big cat.
Researchers studying the area believe that there could be just 10,000 of the adult cats in the region.
David McDonald, director of Oxford University's Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, said that the image was very exciting.
"A great deal remains to be discovered about these beautiful felids, which are a flagship for conservation in south-east Asia," he explained.
The Sebangau Field Project is aiming to protect wild cat species located in Borneo and this includes the leopard, marbled cat and the flat-headed cat.
The importance of protection has been highlighted by the recent forest fires in Borneo which not only burned away vegetation but also released harmful emissions into the air.