Shillong, Aug 4: Meghalaya has launched Mission Clouded Leopard, the state’s flagship programme to conserve the Clouded Leopard (Neofelis nebulosa), the state animal.
The mission will be guided by the upcoming Meghalaya Clouded Leopard Action Plan and will cover habitat protection, scientific monitoring, anti-poaching, landscape connectivity, community participation, and inter-state collaboration across the Northeast.
According to an official release, preliminary results from the ongoing scientific assessment have identified 21 individual Clouded Leopards in the Balpakram landscape. The survey will be extended to Nokrek, Baghmara, Narpuh, Nongkhyllem and other key habitats to produce the state’s first comprehensive population estimate.
The Clouded Leopard is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List since 2008, and is protected under Schedule I of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 and Appendix I of CITES.
Known locally as Maccha Pheng in Garo, Lakrong in Khasi, and Khla in Jaintia, the species is an indicator of forest health.
Calling for public participation, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said traditional institutions, communities, youth, researchers and conservation groups must join hands to safeguard the state animal.
