India has reaffirmed its commitment to wildlife conservation, particularly for the protection of endangered and flagship species, by unveiling its first-ever Conservation Action Plan for the Clouded Leopard on 4 August, observed as International Clouded Leopard Day.
India is globally recognised for its amazing diversity of small, medium and large cats. The country has already emerged as a leader in the conservation of several iconic species of big cats, including the Tiger, Asiatic Lion and Snow Leopard. India now supports more than 70% of the world’s wild tiger population and is the only country outside Africa with a wild population of lions. Ladakh,a high-altitude Himalayan state of India supports the highest recorded densities of Snow Leopards.
India ranks third in the snow leopard population after China and Mongolia.
The latest conservation focus is the Clouded Leopard (Neofelis nebulosa), a medium-sized, elusive and vulnerable wild cat. In India, the species is primarily associated with the tropical evergreen and moist deciduous forests of the northeastern states. However, recent camera-trap surveys have also confirmed its presence in Valmiki Tiger Reserve, located within the Terai Arc Landscape and adjoining Nepal’s Chitwan National Park. Clouded leopards are known for their secretive nature and exceptional ability to remain elusive within dense forests, they are among the most difficult wild cats to see in the wild.
The Conservation Action Plan was developed under the Government of India–Global Environment Facility (GEF)–UNDP initiative and was released during the 91st meeting of the Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife (SCNBWL), held in Coimbatore in July 2026.
The plan provides a complete roadmap for the long-term conservation of the Clouded Leopard. Its priorities include securing and restoring critical habitats, maintaining and strengthening forest connectivity through corridors, improving scientific research and monitoring, and empowering local communities to become active partners in species conservation.
The launch of this action plan marks another important step in India’s growing approach to the conservation of wildlife, one that increasingly recognises the importance of protecting not only the best-known flagship species, but also the elusive and lesser-known predators that play vital roles in maintaining healthy forest ecosystems.
| Heading | Details |
|---|---|
| Population of clouded leopards in India | No official national census figure exists yet. The CAP’s own technical report states there is “no reliable estimate of the species’ total population in India.” Globally, fewer than 10,000 mature individuals are believed to survive. Building India’s first reliable population baseline (via camera traps, occupancy surveys, and eDNA) is itself one of the plan’s core goals. |
| Official date of implementation | Finalised in July 2026 at the 91st Standing Committee meeting of the National Board for Wildlife (Coimbatore); formally launched/released on 4 August 2026, coinciding with International Clouded Leopard Day. |
| Parks and areas included | 14 priority conservation landscapes across Northeast India — spanning Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Mizoram, Manipur, Tripura, and the northern fringes of West Bengal and Bihar (Sikkim also referenced in some landscape descriptions). Includes transboundary habitats linked with Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, and Nepal. Notable sites cited in coverage include Manas National Park, Dampa Tiger Reserve, Buxa Tiger Reserve, and Valmiki Tiger Reserve. |
| Agenda | Halt population decline; protect and reconnect fragmented forest habitats/corridors; establish India’s first reliable population baseline through science; reduce human-wildlife conflict outside protected areas; strengthen anti-poaching and wildlife-crime prevention; promote community participation and sustainable livelihoods; encourage transboundary cooperation with neighboring range countries; integrate climate resilience into planning. |
| Anti-poaching measures | Strengthened enforcement and wildlife-crime prevention; capacity building for frontline forest staff; deployment of the M-STrIPES smart monitoring application; involving local/indigenous communities in anti-poaching monitoring alongside sustainable livelihood alternatives to reduce forest dependence. |
| Scientific monitoring | Standardised, non-invasive methods including camera traps, occupancy surveys/modelling, genetic analysis, and environmental DNA (eDNA) sampling — aimed at building India’s first reliable population estimate and habitat-use data for the species. |
Mr. Vibhav Srivastava is a seasoned wildlife biologist and ecotourism professional with over 20 years of experience across wildlife research, forest management, conservation education, and sustainable tourism in India.
Currently at Nature Safari India, he curates immersive wildlife experiences, leads conservation communication, and designs educational outreach programs. His expertise spans both in-situ and ex-situ conservation, with extensive field work in all major wildlife landscapes of Central, Northern, Eastern, and Southern India. Notable contributions include all-India tiger monitoring with the Wildlife Institute of India, community-based conservation initiatives, and training forest staff and nature guides.
He has held key roles with RARE India, National Zoological Park (New Delhi), Le Passage to India, Tiger Protection Group, and served as Chief Naturalist at Kanha National Park, deepening his expertise in biodiversity conservation and human-wildlife interactions.
An accomplished educator and communicator, Mr. Srivastava has delivered over 30 lectures at prestigious institutions including Delhi University, BHU, Amity University, and IITTM. He is a published author and researcher, with co-authored books, scientific publications, and paper presentations at national seminars. His work consistently bridges conservation science, community engagement, and responsible tourism.
He holds a Master’s degree in Botany, has received professional training from the Wildlife Institute of India, and was nominated among the top five naturalists in India for the TOFT Best Naturalist Award.
