Guwahati: A rare clouded leopard has been photographed in the Tawang district of Arunachal Pradesh at an elevation of 2,080 metres, providing the first detailed photographic documentation of the elusive wild cat in the district.

The photograph was captured by a camera trap at Dudungarh at 7:40 pm on January 28, 2025, during a mammal survey conducted across Tawang between September 2024 and June 2025. Researchers subsequently recorded the species at two other locations, Kharegpo and Bomja, suggesting that its presence may extend beyond a single part of the district.

The study was jointly carried out by the Forest Department of Arunachal Pradesh and the Zoological Survey of India. The findings were published in the Records of the Zoological Survey of India in a study authored by Dakahipaya and colleagues in 2026.

An elusive forest predator

The clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa) is one of the least-studied wild cats due to its secretive behaviour and predominantly arboreal lifestyle. It uses trees for resting and hunting and is found across a variety of forest habitats.

In India, the species has been documented in several northeastern states, including Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, Mizoram and Sikkim.

Despite earlier indications of its presence in Tawang, comprehensive photographic evidence from the district had been lacking. Previous records were based mainly on a questionnaire survey and a skin specimen, while media reports had suggested sightings in high-altitude parts of Arunachal Pradesh.

Extensive camera-trap survey

To document mammals across Tawang’s rugged terrain, researchers divided the district into 115 grids, each covering 5 square kilometres. Camera traps were installed in 50 of these grids, generating 2,304 trap nights with cameras operating continuously.

The clouded leopard was photographed only once, at the Dudungarh site, highlighting the difficulty of detecting the species even through systematic surveys. The camera was positioned in a broadleaf forest dominated by bamboo. Leopard cats and Arunachal macaques were also recorded at the same location.

Evidence of a wider range

The record at 2,080 metres could represent a range extension for the clouded leopard in the region. Elsewhere, the species has been documented across a broad altitudinal range, including around 3,600 metres in Bhutan and 3,498 metres in Nepal. Records from India span elevations from approximately 100 metres to 4,650 metres.

The researchers also highlighted the importance of non-protected landscapes for wildlife conservation. Since the clouded leopard was detected outside a formally protected area in Tawang, such habitats could serve as important refuges despite receiving comparatively limited scientific attention.

The species faces several conservation threats, including habitat loss and fragmentation, degradation of forest habitats and illegal hunting. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) classifies the clouded leopard as Vulnerable, while the species is listed under Schedule I of India’s Wildlife Protection Act.

Traditional beliefs may aid conservation

The study also noted the role of local cultural practices in protecting wildlife. Among the Monpa community, Buddhist beliefs discourage hunting, a tradition the researchers said could contribute to the conservation of wild animals across the landscape.

The scientists have recommended sustained monitoring and more intensive camera-trapping efforts to determine the species’ distribution, habitat preferences and interactions with other carnivores in Tawang.

The new photographic records strengthen scientific evidence of the clouded leopard’s presence in the district and highlight the conservation value of landscapes beyond protected-area boundaries. They also point to the possibility that Tawang forms part of a broader habitat range for one of India’s most elusive wild cats.