Clouded leopards are among the most mysterious of the world’s wild cats. Graceful, arboreal, and elusive, these medium-sized felids inhabit the dense tropical forests of South and Southeast Asia.
Traditionally treated as one species, clouded leopards have been the subject of increased scientific scrutiny in recent years and are now recognized as two distinct species: the Mainland Clouded Leopard (Neofelis nebulosa), and the Sunda Clouded Leopard (Neofelis diardi), found on the islands of Borneo and Sumatra.
Both species face serious threats from habitat loss, fragmentation, and illegal hunting, and are the focus of targeted conservation efforts across their ranges.
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Conservation in Action
Here are some of the recent reports from the Clouded Leopard Working Group included in the monthly SWCCF newsletter:
Greenhouses, Vegetables, and Small Wild Cat Conservation
by Ganga Ram Regmi, Nepal, Clouded Leopard Working Group
March 2026
The Clouded Leopard Working Group (CLWG) has recently developed a partnership with the local government in Taplejung district of eastern Nepal. Phaktalung Rural Municipality has supported 60% monetary support of the total project budget to purchase green houses for 60 households of Olangchung Gola & Yangma village. CLWG provided 40% of the funding for this project.
These villages are situated above 3,000m above sea level in the cold and harsh climate. In spite of the cold climate, the new greenhouses allow farmers to grow organic vegetables throughout the year.
Changes have already started as cabbage, cauliflower, and spinach are growing inside these greenhouses, providing a regular supply of nutrition although the weather outside is extremely cold. Villagers are no longer dependent on outside sources for their daily vegetables. After fulfilling their daily needs, farmers sell their vegetables in the local market. In return for CLWG's greenhouse funding, the community agreed to monitor the forests and remove snares and traps that are placed for Clouded leopard and other wildlife including prey species.
Last December & January, the community collected and dismantled 29 snares and traps from the nearby forests, demonstrating that collaborative conservation actions are beneficial to both small wild cats and local livelihood. With increased funding, we are expanding our successful program to villages that have expressed interest.
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Beekeeping and Clouded Leopard Conservation in Nepal
by Ganga Ram Regmi, Nepal, Clouded Leopard Working Group
January 2026
Three years ago, in the Salakpur village of Ilam district, Eastern Nepal, the Clouded Leopard Working Group (CLWG) implemented a small-scale beekeeping experiment. In its first year, the project supported five households. The results were nothing less than spectacular. Today, having provided the entire village of 300 households with the necessary training, equipment, and beehives, most households are fully engaged in beekeeping. Because the village voted to discontinue pesticide use, the honey is organic and sells it at a premium price in local markets. Moreover, the village is surrounded by forest inhabited by Clouded leopard, Asiatic golden cat, and Marbled cat. A healthy forest allows bees to collect nectar from natural wildflowers. Due to its exceptional taste and purity, the honey is in high demand. Remarkably, customers pre-ordering next season's production.
Beekeeping has brought multiple benefits, not only to local farmers, but also to Clouded leopards and their habitat. Farmers produce honey for its health benefits and sell it in local markets to cover daily household expenses including children's education, and healthcare costs. CLWG provided 4,000 high quality honey bottles labeled with our CLWG/SWCCF logos. In 2025, beekeepers sold organic honey worth NPR 4,500,000 (~ $31,000) in local markets. Moreover, our vegetable gardening program has led former traditional wildlife hunters to become more actively engaged in beekeeping and vegetable gardening, leading to a dramatic reduction in hunting and poaching over the past two years. As a result, Clouded leopards and other small wild cats, including mothers with kittens are more frequently recorded on our trail cameras, indicating improved protection of their habitat.
Because beekeeping and vegetable gardening are easier than livestock rearing, and honey and vegetable production more profitable, many households reduced or completely abandoned livestock rearing. Over the next two years, the project aims to transition all village households from livestock-based livelihoods to more sustainable, profitable, and Clouded leopard-friendly beekeeping and vegetable gardening enterprises. This shift will significantly aid local forests. Decreased human and livestock disturbance allows tree saplings to grow undisturbed, enhancing natural forest regeneration, improving habitat quality, and increasing honey production. Thus, beyond their economic advantages, beekeeping and vegetable gardening plays a significant role in supporting Clouded leopard habitats.
Our beekeeping and vegetable gardening initiatives proved to be practical, sustainable, and scalable for rural communities as well as Clouded leopards and other wildlife. Our efforts were made possible by the generous support of our financial partners including the Small Wild Cat Conservation Foundation, Big Cat Rescue, and the Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund. In 2026, we will replicate our model across the wider landscape.
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