Comparison of Snow Leopard and Clouded Leopards of India

Leopard is a Panthera species widely distributed on the Indian subcontinent and culturally important for the Indian wild forest. Three Felidae leopards found in India are majestic Clouded Leopard,Beautiful Snow Leopard and and most exclusive Indian Leopard.

Clouded Leopard

Clouded Leopard is the 5th member of big cats found in India, mostly occur from the Himalayan foothills to northeastern states of India. It is listed as Vulnerable and suspected to be fewer than 10,000 mature individuals left in the world, in India mainly sighted in Assam,Meghalaya,northern West Bengal,Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh.

Family: Felidae
Status: Vulnerable
Scientific Name: Neofelis nebulosa
Habitat Range: North East India
Characteristics: Dark grey blotched pattern
Body Weight: Up to 23 kg
Prey Upon: Primates,squirrels and Birds
Hunting: Nocturnal
Behavior: Arboreal
Number in Wild: Unknown

Snow Leopard

The strikingly beautiful snow leopard is one of the mysterious cat, native to the mountain ranges of Indian Himalayas and Himalayan states of Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh. Snow Leopards mostly occur at high elevations and alpine zones of Himalayas and well adopt for living in a cold and mountainous environment.

Family: Felidae
Status: Endangered
Scientific Name: Panthera uncia syn Uncia uncia
Habitat Range: Himalayan states of India
Characteristics: Smoky gray to yellowish fur
Body Weight: Up to 75 kg
Prey Upon: Blue sheep and Himalayan tahr
Hunting: Dawn and Dusk
Number in Wild: 2,500

– Indian Leopard

Indian Leopard is the most successful members of big cats family, found across the Indian subcontinent. The majestic Indian Leopard has an estimated population of 12,000 individuals in the wild forest of India as well as in urban areas. Jawai hills of Rajasthan,Bhadravati division of Karnataka and Sanjay Gandhi National Park of Mumbai has the highest density of leopards in India.

Family: Felidae
Status: Vulnerable
Scientific Name: Panthera pardus fusca
Habitat Range: Indian subcontinent
Characteristics: Black spot in yellowish color
Body Weight: Up to 77 kg
Prey Upon: Primates,wild boars and deer
Hunting: Nocturnal
Number in Wild: 12,000

– Black Panther

Black Panther is actually the melanistic color variant of Indian Leopard, mostly found in deep dark forest of Kabini, Dandeli and Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary of India. No source can accurately estimate the exact population of the melanistic black leopard in India.