Tripura, Meghalaya, Mizoram to protect endangered Clouded Leopard

Agartala/Shillong/Guwahati (IANS) Three northeastern states -- Tripura, Meghalaya and Mizoram -- are taking steps to protect the endangered clouded leopard, which was listed as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

In India, clouded leopards are restricted to the country's northeast region -- the eastern Himalayas, the Assam valley, and the hills south of the Brahmaputra.

According to an official document, Mizoram's Dampa Tiger Reserve holds the distinction of housing the highest number of clouded leopards in Southeast Asia.

The density of population of clouded leopards, locally known as "Kelral", is 5.14 per 100 sq km in the reserve, situated along the Mizoram-Bangladesh and Tripura.

A Forest officials said that in 2018, India added clouded leopards to its recovery programme for critically endangered species to aid more research and strengthen conservation efforts.

"The state animal of Meghalaya, the Clouded Leopard, a beautiful spotted cat, is a majestic sight to watch. Sadly, it has been declared vulnerable by the IUCN. Let us work towards preserving such rare species," Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma tweeted on the occasion of the ongoing