Nepal is home to a rich variety of flora and fauna, including a remarkable diversity of felid species, totaling 13. Among them, the clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa) stands out as one of the most fascinating creatures, known as the largest among the small cat species.
The clouded leopard gets its name from the striking cloud-like patterns that adorn its body. With short limbs, broad paws, and a long tail almost equal in length to its body, this cat is perfectly adapted for an arboreal lifestyle.
It has the longest canine of all carnivores in relation to its body size. Weighing between 11 to 23 kg, the clouded leopard is a solitary and nocturnal animal, mostly active during dawn, dusk, and night.
Distribution and population status
Globally, the clouded leopard inhabits countries across South and Southeast Asia, including Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, China, Cambodia, India, Laos, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam.
Within Nepal, this elusive cat is mostly recorded in protected areas such as Annapurna Conservation Area, Manaslu Conservation Area, Langtang National Park, Shivpuri-Nagarjun National Park, Makalu-Barun National Park, Kanchenjunga Conservation Area, Chitwan National, Park, and Parsa National Park.
Outside these protected area sightings have been reported from districts like Kaski, Chitwan, Sunsari, and Sankhuwasabha. Recent studies show that less than 100 individuals remain in Nepal.
Habitat and diet
The Clouded Leopard primarily inhabits in dense subtropical forests across South and Southeast Asia, but it is also found in secondary forests, grasslands, scrublands, and mangroves.
It typically lives at elevations up to 2,500 meters above sea level, but recently few individuals have also been recorded from higher than 3,500 meters above sea level in Bhutan, India, and Nepal. It preys on macaques, barking deer, langurs, squirrels, tree shrews, birds, and small rodents.
Clouded leopards reach sexual maturity at about 26 months. Their mating season usually spans from December to March. After a gestation period of 90–100 days, females give birth to one to five cubs, with three being the most common number.
Conservation and legal status
The National Red data list of mammals classifies the clouded leopard as an endangered species. In Nepal, it is legally protected under the National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act 1973 and listed in Appendix I of CITES.
Killing, injuring, selling, purchasing, transferring, or possessing a clouded leopard or its body parts is a punishable offense, with penalties ranging from fines of Rs 500,000 to Rs 1,000,000 imprisonment for 5 to 15 years, or both.
Threats and way out
The clouded leopard faces multiple threats, including poaching for its pelt, teeth, and bones. Habitat loss due to deforestation, which is decreasing at a rate of 10% annually in South Asia, poses a significant danger.
The demand for its unique coat and body parts for traditional medicine continues to fuel illegal hunting. Other threats include the loss of natural prey, large infrastructure projects, mining, urbanisation, and forest fires.
Despite their legal protection, the hunting and trafficking of clouded leopards remain common in Nepal. Therefore, the action plan and conservation strategy for clouded leopard conservation should be effectively implemented.
Collaborative partnerships with local communities must be prioritised to ensure long-term conservation success. Various local-level conservation campaigns should be conducted across the country to raise awareness and to improve public attitudes and perceptions toward this species.
Furthermore, comprehensive surveys should be carried out to explore the clouded leopard habitats and their distribution should be thoroughly explored, and management actions must be enforced strictly.
