07-08-2025
Rare Clouded Leopard Spotted In Forests Of Northeast India; Video Goes Viral
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Mostly living high in the treetops of dense forests across Southeast Asia and Northeast India, clouded leopards can be silently spotted at night and avoid human contact.
The Clouded Leopard is one of the rarest leopard species in Asia, and its appearance is very mysterious because it is nocturnal. With their beautifully patterned coats and secretive habits, these elusive animals are rarely seen in the wild.
Mostly living high in the treetops of dense forests across Southeast Asia and Northeast India, they can be silently spotted at night and avoid human contact. Their quiet existence keeps them away from anyone.
Since it is mostly impossible to see them during the day, it is also rare to be caught on camera. If you find it anywhere, it is a rare moment.
Susanta Nanda, a former Indian Forest Service officer, recently shared a video on the social media platform X that shows a clouded leopard mother with her cubs moving through the lush forests of Northeast India. He captioned the video as, 'Elusive. Ethereal. Endangered."
Elusive. Ethereal. barely ~10,000 left in the wild & scattered sightings in NE India, the Clouded Leopard is our most secretive big cat.
Here, a rare glimpse — a mother with her cubs, guardians of an ancient rainforest. A sight so rare that it's mythical.
— Susanta Nanda IFS (Retd) (@susantananda3) August 5, 2025
Clouded leopards are disappearing at a rapid pace. Clouded leopards are officially listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, with fewer than 10,000 globally. These cats are spread across northeastern India, the Himalayan foothills, southeast Asia and southern China.
With their beautiful cloud-like spots on their bodies, these big cats have extraordinary climbing abilities and long canine teeth. They are larger in size than all other cats.
These cats face significant threats from habitat loss, poaching and human-wildlife conflict. In Northeast India alone, forest fragmentation and illegal wildlife trade have led to their decline.
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