‘Secretive’ rainforest predator born at Tennessee zoo. See the ‘precious’ baby

A “mysterious” ancient cat has been born at a zoo in Tennessee as part of a species survival plan for the rare predators native to Southeast Asia.

Nashville Zoo announced the birth of a female clouded leopard March 11.

“Clouded leopards are among the rarest of the world’s cat species and one of the most secretive,” according to Nashville Zoo staff. “Due to limited knowledge of this species, they have proved difficult to breed in captivity.”

Despite this difficulty, the zoo said it has welcomed the births of 44 clouded leopards since 1991, aided in part by artificial insemination programs. The new female’s father, Niran, was born from frozen and thawed sperm in 2017.

The baby will be hand-raised by zookeepers like the other clouded leopards before her, “because it significantly increases their survival rates by preventing parental predation or neglect,” according to the zoo.

Clouded leopards are known for their climbing skills, and they have a rare ability to descend trees headfirst, according to the Smithsonian’s National Zoo. The carnivorous species can hunt both from the trees and the ground, catching prey with 2-inch teeth, which are very long relative to their body size, the San Diego Zoo says.

Males weigh up to 50 pounds, with females usually being about half as large.

“Recent research has proposed the clouded leopard branched from other members of the Pantherinae family first—over 6 million years ago—making them the most ancient feline species in the modern cat world,” according to the Smithsonian’s National Zoo.

But experts say the species is challenging to observe in the wild, and much of what researchers know about the cats comes from observing them in captivity.

The announcement of a new member of a flagship species at Nashville Zoo drew excitement from fans already excited to see the “precious baby.”

She won’t open her eyes until she’s a few weeks old, the zoo said. For now, visitors can catch a glimpse of her during feedings twice a day, and the zoo is asking people to vote on what her name should be.