Meghalaya unveils Mission Clouded Leopard to protect its State animal
In a significant step towards wildlife conservation, the Meghalaya government has launched a dedicated programme for its State animal, the mainland clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa). Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma unveiled Mission Clouded Leopard on Tuesday, August 4, 2026, to address the multiple challenges facing the elusive feline.
The mission focuses on habitat protection and restoration, scientific research, long-term monitoring, and landscape connectivity. It also aims to strengthen protection measures, build capacity of frontline staff, and promote community participation and public awareness. The programme will be guided by the Meghalaya Clouded Leopard Action Plan, currently being prepared by the Forest and Environment Department.
Meghalaya's clouded leopard population is spread across community-managed forests and the forest landscapes of Nokrek, Balpakram, Baghmara, Narpuh, and Nongkhyllem. The involvement of local communities is seen as crucial for the success of the mission, as they play a key role in protecting these habitats.
Highlighting the importance of scientific assessment, Chief Minister Sangma said that an ongoing study has so far identified 21 individual clouded leopards in the Balpakram National Park. This assessment will be extended to all major habitats across the State, giving Meghalaya its first comprehensive population estimate of the State animal.
The mainland clouded leopard, distinct from the Sunda clouded leopard found in Borneo and Sumatra, is listed as 'vulnerable' on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List. It is protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, which accords it the highest level of legal protection in India.
The launch coincides with the release of the Conservation Action Plan (CAP) for the caracal, fishing cat, and clouded leopard by the Wildlife Institute of India. The CAP notes that India supports one of the most important remaining populations of the mainland clouded leopard. Across its global range, significant populations persist in Bhutan, Myanmar, Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia, and parts of northeast India. Conversely, populations in Bangladesh, Vietnam, Taiwan, and large parts of China have declined severely, with several regions now supporting only small, isolated populations or facing local extinction.
The principal threats to clouded leopards include habitat loss, degradation, and fragmentation due to infrastructure development, agricultural expansion, mining, plantations, and human settlements. Illegal hunting and trade in skins and body parts continue to threaten populations in several range countries. Additionally, prey depletion, human disturbance, road development, and climate change further complicate conservation efforts.
According to the CAP, these threats are particularly significant because clouded leopards depend on extensive, connected forest habitats and occur at naturally low population densities. The overall goal of the CAP is to secure viable, connected, and genetically healthy clouded leopard populations while conserving the forest ecosystems upon which they depend. Mission Clouded Leopard aligns with this vision, aiming to ensure the long-term survival of the species in Meghalaya's community-managed forests and protected areas.
