The Centre has launched a dedicated conservation action plan for the clouded leopard, outlining measures to protect habitats, improve scientific monitoring and strengthen community participation for the conservation of the elusive wild cat across Northeast India.
The Clouded Leopard Conservation Action Plan (CAP), prepared under the Government of India–GEF–UNDP initiative, was released during the 91st meeting of the Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife (SCNBWL) held in Coimbatore in July.
The plan identifies 14 priority conservation landscapes across the Northeast and proposes landscape-level habitat restoration and corridor conservation to improve connectivity between forest patches. It also places the clouded leopard under the Species Recovery Programme of the Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats (IDWH) scheme, providing an institutional framework for long-term conservation.
To strengthen scientific assessment of the species, the action plan proposes standardised monitoring through camera traps, occupancy surveys, genetic analysis and environmental DNA (eDNA) studies. These measures are aimed at generating reliable data on the clouded leopard’s distribution, population and habitat use.
The plan also calls for stronger anti-poaching measures and wildlife crime prevention, alongside capacity building of frontline forest staff through training and the use of the M-STrIPES smart application for field monitoring.
Recognising the role of local communities in protecting forest ecosystems, the action plan promotes community-led conservation and sustainable livelihood initiatives. It also advocates greater cooperation with neighbouring range countries to facilitate coordinated conservation efforts across the species’ transboundary habitats.
The strategy incorporates climate resilience and adaptive management into conservation planning to address the long-term impacts of climate change on clouded leopard habitats.
Found in the dense forests of Northeast India, the clouded leopard is among the country’s least-studied wild cats. The Centre said the conservation plan adopts a landscape-based approach that combines habitat protection, scientific research, technology, community engagement and international collaboration to secure the future of the species.
