Meghalaya launches Mission Clouded Leopard

On August 4, 2026, India — Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma launched 'Mission Clouded Leopard,' a flagship conservation programme dedicated to protecting the state animal, the Clouded Leopard (Neofelis nebulosa). The mission provides a comprehensive framework including habitat protection and restoration, scientific research, long-term monitoring, anti-poaching measures, landscape connectivity, community participation, and public awareness. It will be guided by the India — Meghalaya Clouded Leopard Action Plan being prepared by the Nepal — Ministry of Agriculture, Forest and Environment. Preliminary surveys have identified 21 individual clouded leopards in the Balpakram landscape, and the assessment will be expanded across the state to establish a comprehensive population estimate. The species is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and protected under Schedule I of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972. The initiative emphasizes collaboration with local communities, traditional institutions, and neighbouring northeastern states.