In a significant step towards protecting one of India’s most elusive wild cats, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has unveiled the country’s first-ever Conservation Action Plan for the Clouded Leopard. The comprehensive strategy identifies 14 priority conservation landscapes across Northeast India, where the species still survives in fragmented forest habitats.

Often referred to as the “ghost of the rainforest,” the clouded leopard is one of Asia’s least-studied big cats. In India, it is found primarily in the dense tropical and subtropical forests of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura, Manipur and parts of northern West Bengal and Sikkim. Despite being protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, the species continues to face serious threats from habitat loss, forest fragmentation, poaching and illegal wildlife trade.

The newly launched action plan focuses on 14 priority landscapes spread across the Northeast, aiming to strengthen habitat protection, restore forest connectivity, improve scientific monitoring and reduce human-induced threats. The plan also calls for extensive use of camera traps, genetic studies and satellite-based habitat mapping to better understand the clouded leopard’s distribution, population trends and ecological requirements.

Recognising that conservation cannot succeed without local support, the strategy places strong emphasis on community participation, awareness programmes and capacity building for frontline forest staff. It also promotes cooperation among state forest departments, research institutions, conservation organisations and local communities to ensure long-term protection of the species and its habitat.

The clouded leopard plays a crucial role as a top predator in the forests of Northeast India, helping maintain ecological balance by regulating prey populations. Conservationists believe that protecting this species will also safeguard some of India’s richest biodiversity hotspots, benefiting numerous other endangered plants and animals that share the same ecosystem.

Wildlife experts have welcomed the initiative as a landmark milestone for India’s carnivore conservation programme. They say the action plan provides a long-term roadmap for securing the future of the clouded leopard while reinforcing India’s commitment to preserving the unique wildlife and forests of the Northeast.