🤯 Did You Know (click to read)
Large river systems in Borneo have historically influenced the distribution of many terrestrial species.
Major river systems across Borneo create formidable natural boundaries for terrestrial mammals. Although the Sunda clouded leopard is agile and capable of short swims, broad rivers limit regular dispersal. Over evolutionary time, such barriers contributed to localized genetic structuring. In modern landscapes already fragmented by human activity, rivers compound isolation. Forest corridors may end abruptly at wide water channels. Limited crossing opportunities reduce gene flow between subpopulations. Even powerful carnivores cannot ignore hydrological geography. Water becomes an invisible fence.
💥 Impact (click to read)
In some regions, rivers stretch hundreds of meters across with strong currents. A failed crossing attempt can be fatal. When combined with cleared banks or plantations, safe passage narrows further. Genetic exchange declines as effective distance increases. The result is subtle but cumulative fragmentation across the island.
Conservation planning must account for riverine barriers when designing wildlife corridors. Protecting forested riparian zones may improve connectivity. The Sunda clouded leopard’s movement ecology reflects both natural and human-imposed boundaries. Geography, not just deforestation, shapes its survival odds.
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