About Clouded leopards

• The clouded leopard is a medium-sized wild cat native to Southeast Asia.
• It is known for its beautiful coat, which is pale yellow to ochre with distinctive cloud-like patterns and irregular spots.
• Despite their name, clouded leopards are not actually a kind of leopard, but are completely separate from the genus that includes lions, tigers, leopards and jaguars.

Distribution

• In India, it is primarily found in the northeastern states of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Tripura and  Sikkim. They are also reported in West Bengal. 
• They inhabit a variety of forest types, including evergreen, semi-evergreen, and mixed deciduous forests.
• These leopards are known for their arboreal (tree-dwelling) abilities and are excellent climbers.

Protection Status:

• IUCN Red List: Vulnerable;
• CITES: Appendix I; 
• Wildlife Protection Act: Schedule I. 

Threats

• Poaching poses a severe threat to clouded leopard populations due to the  demand for their skin, bones, and other body parts in the illegal wildlife trade.
• Reduction in natural prey populations due to hunting or habitat loss forces clouded leopards to turn to alternative food sources, including domestic livestock. This can lead to conflicts with humans.
• Roads that cut through their habitats can result in accidental deaths through vehicle collisions.