GUWAHATI: A rare clouded leopard was recently captured on a camera trap inside Assam’s Dehing Patkai National Park. This was revealed by State Forest Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary on Friday, March 7.
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“Thrilling conservation update! Our camera trap inside Dehing Patkai National Park has just captured a rare and remarkable sighting of a Clouded Leopard,” the minister shared stills of the animal on his X account.
He further highlighted the significance of the find, noting that the clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa) is listed as Vulnerable on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List. This species is particularly native to the forests of the eastern Himalayas, Northeast India, and Southeast Asia.
In India, clouded leopards exist in several states, including Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, and Meghalaya. Camera trap surveys have recorded them in several protected areas, with Assam's Manas National Park one of them included.
As highly skilled climbers, clouded leopards are capable of descending vertical trunks headfirst. They have long tails, measuring between 61 to 91 cm, which assist in balancing while navigating trees.
However, despite such adaptability, clouded leopards are facing a population decline due to deforestation and poaching. Fewer than 10,000 adults remain in the wild, with each subpopulation numbering under 1,000 individuals.
