Shillong, Aug 10: International Clouded Leopard Day, observed globally on August 4, was marked in Meghalaya on Friday through a collaborative programme organised by the Meghalaya Biodiversity Board (MBB), Eastern Himalayas Marbled Cat Project and the Meghalaya chapter of the Indian Youth Biodiversity Network (IYBN).
Representatives from select biodiversity management committees (BMCs) across the state came together to discuss ongoing and future conservation work for the clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa) and other wildcat species found in Meghalaya’s forests.
The event opened with remarks by Stevia Kharmalki, Administrative Officer of MBB, who spoke on the essential role of BMCs in local conservation. Triplestar Thongni from the project team presented updates on field activities, followed by Giridhar Malla, who outlined wildcat conservation initiatives across Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya.
He spoke on fostering a “hunter-to-guardian” mindset and stressed that clouded leopards require dense forest canopy for survival. Joanica Jyrwa shared the broader goals of wildcat conservation, briefly discussed the significance of International Clouded Leopard Day and highlighted ways BMCs could contribute to future collaborations.
D Khlur B Mukhim, former Principal of Lady Keane College and zoologist, provided special remarks drawing from his extensive expertise and experience as a field biologist. He also gave an overview of the species’ presence across the state while addressing the cultural roles in conservation efforts.
An interactive session allowed BMC members to exchange and record vernacular names for the clouded leopard from their respective regions, contributing to both ecological and cultural documentation. The programme concluded with the recognition of selected BMCs for their sustained contributions to the project.
