Guwahati: A rare Clouded Leopard (Neofelis nebulosa) was captured on a camera trap inside Kakoi Reserve Forest in Assam’s Lakhimpur division, highlighting the ecological significance of Assam’s forests.
Kakoi Reserve Forest forms part of the Brahmaputra valley’s shrinking natural forest cover and faces threats from illegal timber smuggling and forest land encroachment.
The camera-trap exercise was organized by the Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), Lakhimpur Forest Division, as part of routine wildlife monitoring.
Conducted with technical support from wildlife experts and overseen by senior forest officials, the operation recorded the Clouded Leopard, a species known for its secretive, arboreal behavior and sensitivity to habitat disturbance.
“This image is far more than a rare sighting,” an official associated with the exercise said. “It reflects the continued existence of a functional forest ecosystem that can still support a top predator.”
The forest’s dense canopy, complex vegetation, and relatively undisturbed pockets provide conditions suitable for species dependent on forest continuity.
Experts note such forests often act as ecological corridors, enabling wildlife movement and maintaining genetic diversity across fragmented landscapes.
“Predators like the Clouded Leopard survive only where prey, cover, and ecological stability exist together,” a source noted. “Their presence speaks directly to the health of the forest.”
The Clouded Leopard is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is estimated to number fewer than 10,000 individuals globally. In India, it is largely restricted to the Northeast and eastern Himalayan region, with populations estimated in the low hundreds.
Forests in the region continue to face challenges from timber smuggling, encroachment, and human pressure. Conservationists warn that ongoing degradation could affect the forest ecosystem and species it supports.
Officials said that continued scientific monitoring, strict enforcement, and community engagement are essential.
“The Clouded Leopard’s presence is both a symbol of survival and a warning,” an official remarked. “Protecting Kakoi now will determine whether such species remain part of Assam’s natural heritage,” he added.