Return of Vulnerable Clouded Leopards in India
Clouded Leopard is one of the wild cat found in the North East Indian states of Assam to Arunachal Pradesh. Neofelis nebulosa is the scientific name of the clouded leopard and smallest one among the big cats family of India and is arboreal animal, live in Himalayan foothills. Clouded Leopard Pic Credit- Sandesh Kadur.
Clouded Leopard is classified as Vulnerable because of habitat loss, deforestation, illegal trading and poaching for skin, claws and teeth. The exact numbers of this secretive cat are not known but they are believed to be fewer than 10,000 adults left in the wild world.
The magnificent Clouded Leopard is rare and vulnerable species of wild cats that live throughout the forest of north east Indian states and state animal of Meghalaya. The endemic species belonging to the Felidae family found in Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Tripura.
Clouded Leopard National Park in Tripura is part of Sepahijala wildlife sanctuary and is also the only national park for Clouded Leopards in India. National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries of North East are home to all the 15 species of wild cats found in India including Black Panther.
Best national parks to spot Vulnerable Clouded Leopards in India includes Manas National Park of Assam, Phawngpui Blue Mountain National Park in Mizoram, Sipahijola Wildlife Sanctuary in Tripura and Namdapha National Park of Arunachal Pradesh. Above Photo Credit – Sandesh Kadur.
Balpakram-Siju and Saipung, Meghalaya
Clouded Leopard is the pride of Meghalaya,the beautiful and rare clouded leopard cat found in Balpakram-Siju and Narpuh-Saipung areas. Balpakram-Siju and Nokrek-Saipung protected areas of Meghalaya is also home to medium size wild cats including jungle cat, golden cat and marbled cat.
Manas National Park, Assam
Manas Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park is one of the biosphere reserve in Assam,famous for its population of the wild water buffalo. The wildlife park is known for species of rare and endangered wildlife including Clouded leopards and Asian golden cat.
Namdapha National Park, Arunachal Pradesh
Namdapha National Park is one of the largest protected area in India,known for true wilderness and enchanting beauty of lush green forest.The park is one of the biodiversity hot-spot in India and wildlife richest areas in the Eastern Himalayas with great diversity of mammal species including four big cat species of Snow Leopard, Clouded Leopard,Indian Leopard and Bengal Tigers.
Phawngpui National Park, Mizoram
Blue Mountain National Park is located in the Lawngtlai district and home to the highest mountain peak in the state Phawngpui National Park is the natural home to a wonderful range of wild animals and bird life including Mrs. Hume’s pheasant, Serow, goral, Capped langur,Black eagle and Clouded Leopard.
Dibru-Saikhowa National Park, Assam
Dibru-Saikhowa National Park is one of the largest protected area in Assam and one of the 19 biodiversity hot-spots in the world. The national wildlife park is also home to other rare creatures such as water buffalo,capped Langur,jungle cat and Clouded Leopard.
Buxa National Park, West Bengal
Buxa National Park is home to extreme bio-diverse North-East India also form an elephant corridor to the Jaldapara Wildlife Sanctuary. Rare and endangered animals found in the park includes civet,Indian bison,Elephant and Clouded Leopard.
Sipahijola Wildlife Sanctuary, Tripura
Sepahijala Wildlife Sanctuary of Tripura is actually a natural botanical and zoological gardens. The wildlife park is famous for its clouded leopard enclosures and create a Clouded Leopard National Park inside.
