Here's why:
* They are carnivores: They primarily prey on small mammals, birds, and reptiles.
* They eat other animals: This places them above primary consumers (herbivores) in the trophic level.
* They are not apex predators: While formidable hunters, clouded leopards are preyed upon by larger predators like tigers and leopards. This means they are not at the top of the food chain.
Therefore, they are classified as secondary consumers.