Rare Clouded Leopard Captured on Camera in Buxa Forest, Officials Call It Encouraging
Alipurduar: Wildlife officials in the Buxa Tiger Reserve have recorded a rare sighting of a clouded leopard through a camera trap, adding to recent signs of growing wildlife activity in the forest. The development comes shortly after the area reported the presence of a Royal Bengal Tiger.
Divisional Forest Officer Harikrishnan PJ said the appearance of the clouded leopard reflects a healthy and balanced forest environment. He shared the camera-trap photograph with the public, confirming that the animal was detected in the western section of the Buxa forest.
Known for its secretive nature, the clouded leopard is among the lesser-seen wild cats of the region. It can be identified by its thick fur, which ranges from dark grey to ochre, marked with large, cloud-shaped patterns in darker shades. The species also has black ears, distinctive facial markings, and stripe patterns extending from the eyes to the neck and shoulders.
The clouded leopard’s natural range stretches across South and Southeast Asia, including Nepal, Bhutan, the Himalayan foothills of India, Myanmar, southeastern Bangladesh, Thailand, Malaysia, and parts of southern China. Within India, it is mainly found in the subtropical forests of Sikkim, North Bengal, Tripura, Mizoram, Manipur, Assam, Nagaland, and Arunachal Pradesh.
Previous records show its presence in the Khangchendzonga Biosphere Reserve in Sikkim between 2008 and 2010. In Manas National Park, surveys conducted during 2010–2011 documented 16 individuals of the species.
Forest authorities believe the animal recorded in Buxa may have entered the reserve from Bhutan, highlighting the role of shared forest corridors in sustaining wildlife populations across borders.
Officials say the sighting strengthens conservation efforts in the Buxa Tiger Reserve and underscores the forest’s importance as a refuge for rare and threatened species.
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