Zoo Atlanta welcomes Boon the clouded leopard

Zoo Atlanta is thrilled to welcome Boon, an 8-year-old female clouded leopard, to the animal population. Boon arrived in Atlanta on April 14, 2026, from the Nashville Zoo at Grassmere on a recommendation from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Species Survival Plan® (SSP).

Despite the species name, clouded leopards are not true leopards; instead, they belong to their own genus, Neofelis. They are mid-sized wild cats, with adults typically weighing between 25 and 51 pounds. Adaptations specifically for climbing include the longest tail in relation to body size of any wild cat, which aids in balance, as well as rotating ankle joints which allow them to descend trees headfirst.  

Native to forests in Asia, including the Himalayan foothills, parts of northern India and Bhutan, into southeast Asia and southern China, the species is classified as Vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Despite limited research, clouded leopard populations are believed to be declining in the wild. Their most pressing challenges are habitat loss due to deforestation, the illegal wildlife trade, and injuries and deaths from poachers’ snares.

“As an ambassador for a beautiful species with memorable adaptations, Boon will be a welcome and wonderful addition to the cat species found at Zoo Atlanta,” said Gina Ferrie, PhD, Vice President of Collections and Conservation. “Her species also represents a conservation effort our Members and guests are helping to support each time they visit.”

Wildlife Alliance is one of the seven programs supported in 2026 by Zoo Atlanta’s Mabel Dorn Reeder Conservation Endowment Fund. Based in Cambodia, the project aims to implement a highly effective anti-poaching program to address the issue of clouded leopard mortality caused by snaring. The effort seeks to provide assistance in law enforcement patrolling, with specific focus on snare removal in the center of the Cardamom Rainforest – an area crucial for the survival of the clouded leopard and other endangered mammals.

Zoo Atlanta is a participating partner in the Wildlife Trafficking Alliance, a coalition of AZA zoos and aquariums, nonprofits, and corporate organizations working to raise awareness of the illegal wildlife trade and reduce consumer demand for illegal wildlife products. In 2025, Zoo Atlanta became a member of the Wildlife Confiscations Network, which operates under the Wildlife Trafficking Alliance and strives to reduce wildlife trafficking and increase support for law enforcement by providing a coordinated system to ensure the care and welfare of confiscated live wildlife.

Boon is not yet visible to Members and guests. She will complete a routine behind-the-scenes quarantine period of around a month before exploring her new home in the Zoo’s Complex Carnivores section.

Plan a visit at zooatlanta.org. 

(Photo courtesy Nashville Zoo at Grassmere)