7 Place to See Smallest Big Cat in Northeast India

Clouded Leopard is the smallest Big Wild Cat found in India and also a very rare and most enticing wild big cats of North East India, found from the Himalayan foothills to northern east states of Tripura, Manipur and Nagaland. The vulnerable clouded leopard occurs in the dense forest of states of Assam, West Bengal, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram and is the state animal of Meghalaya.

Namdapha National Park is the largest national park in northeastern India, located in Arunachal Pradesh state and a biodiversity hotspot in India. The park is only home to four big cat species found in India, Snow leopard, clouded leopard, Indian leopard and Bengal tiger.

Dampa Tiger Reserve, Mizoram

Dampa Tiger Reserve is the the largest wildlife sanctuary in Mizoram and home to rich flora and fauna, The park is home to highest population of clouded leopard in India as well as in South East Asia.

The deep valleys, green forest and jungle streams of the splendid Wildlife Sanctuary is only accessible by walk and a natural home to Indian Python, sloth bear, gibbons, langurs and clouded leopards.

Manas National Park, Assam

Manas National Park of Assam is very famous for its endemic and endangered wild animals such as pygmy hog, wild water buffalo, Assam roofed turtle and Indian rhinoceros. The rare and endangered wildlife of the sanctuary also include endangered Bengal florican, hispid hare, golden langur, hoolock gibbons and clouded leopards.

Pakke Tiger Reserve, Arunachal Pradesh

Pakke Tiger Reserve is a protected area in Arunachal Pradesh and won the best India Biodiversity Award in 2016 for Hornbill Nest. The wildlife sanctuary is home to sixteen species of viverrids, weasels and mongooses, Most notable mammals in the reserve are clouded leopard, Himalayan black bear, capped langur and stamp tailed macaques.

Khangchendzonga National Park, Sikkim

Khangchendzonga National Park is the the first Mixed Heritage site of India and home to the third highest peak in the world. The snow capped mountains and peaks of the Kanchenjunga is one of the few high altitude National parks of India and home to rare Himalayan wildlife such as Himalayan black bear, Himalayan tahr,Himalayan Musk deer, Himalayan blue sheep, exotic Snow Leopard and rare Clouded Leopard.

Balphakram National Park, Meghalaya

Balphakram National Park of Meghalaya near the Garo Hills is known for pristine beauty and compared with Grand Canyon National Park of United States. The beautiful landscape, Canyon and unique land formations of the park is home to eight species of wild cats including clouded leopard and tiger also famous for pitcher plant in India.

Clouded Leopard National Park, Tripura

Clouded Leopard National Park is part of the Sipahijola Wildlife Sanctuary, famous for clouded leopards. The sanctuary gives shelter to Phayre’s langur, species of migratory birds, four species of primates and the most exotic clouded leopards.

Neora Valley National Park, West Bengal

Neora Valley National Park is the land of the elegant red panda and richest biological zones in the entire Eastern India. The park host wilderness zone, rich diverse flora and fauna, colourful canopy of Rhododendron trees, snowcapped mountains and home to endangered clouded leopard and exotic Red Panda.

Other national parks and wildlife sanctuary of northeastern India, known for clouded leopards are Buxa National Park in West Bengal,Dibru Saikhowa National Park of Assam, Phawngpui National Park in Mizoram, Singalila National Park in Darjeeling and Namdapha National Park of Arunachal Pradesh.

Namdapha also famous for its evergreen rainforest and great diversity of mammal species such as lesser known Asiatic black bear, langur, spotted linsang, binturong, hoolock gibbon, red giant flying squirrel, red panda and snowythroated babbler bird.