Home : : Nepal Clouded Leopard Project




We are pleased to announce that we are launching ‘Nepal Clouded Leopard Project’ (NCLP) as one of the wings of Friends of Nature (FON) Nepal. The project is currently focused in Sikles-Bhujung area in central Nepal, but we are determined to expand the scope of our research and conservation work on this species across its range in the country.

Project background and success stories
The inception of the project dates back to 2008 when Yadav Ghimirey was granted a Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF) small grant for studying small carnivores in Makalu-Barun National Park. The project, though unsuccessful in confirming the species’ presence in Makalu-Barun, was important in garnering other evidences of the species in the area. In 2011 we shifted our focus to Sikles-Bhujung forests in lower Annapurna Conservation Area in north-central Nepal. The species was found to reside in the area confirmed by camera trap photo. We have focused our attention to the area since then. We have conducted a bigger study in 2017 which helped to identify more locations of the species in Sikles-Bhujung area.

During all these years of the project, we have been able to confirm the presence of clouded leopard in Annapurna Conservation Area and in Chitwan district. Other important results that this project helped bring was the rediscovery of Asiatic golden cat and spotted linsang in Nepal.

A paper on all the clouded leopard records in the country, which included 4-5 years of continuous digging of the species' information in the country, has also been published by Oryx, an international journal of conservation. We have also been asked by IUCN’s representative to assess the status of clouded leopard for Nepal.

Project goal (20 years)
General people coming forward to conserve clouded leopard and its habitat

Long term plans (up to 10 years)
•    expand the Nepal Clouded Leopard Project activities to at least 2-3 sites permanently
•    at least one annual clouded leopard research/conservation grant for graduate students in Nepal
•    impart clouded leopard conservation message to the communities all over the species' range in the country
•    long-term practical clouded leopard conservation initiatives (livelihood enhancement works) in Sikles-Bhujung area

Short term plans (up to 5 years)
•    collect as many occurrence locations for clouded leopard in Nepal as possible
•    conduct presence-absence survey of the species in at least 3 new sites
•    perform clouded leopard distribution modeling for Nepal to identify important areas in the country
•    perform Population Habitat Viability Analysis (PHVA) of the species for Nepal
•    spread clouded leopard conservation message to the communities in Sikles-Bhujung landscape
•    start clouded leopard classrooms in schools
•    come up with a clouded leopard conservation action plan that will guide research and conservation work on the species in the country
•    perform occupancy modeling of the species across its range in Nepal
•    start long-term ecological study on clouded leopard and its prey species
•    coordination and capacity building of University students in research and conservation


How can you help us?

We know that public support is crucial for the success of any project and NCLP is not an exception. Our success depends on active involvement of conservation stakeholders including local communities. Local community banning poaching and wildlife trade in their area will be a huge boost for conservation of clouded leopard.

Similarly, people from every sector can contribute in their own way. For eg. if you are a visual artist, you can help us design conservation posters and booklets, maybe even conservation videos for different target groups. We have found audio visuals to be very effective medium to grab public attention. We would really appreciate your help in this regard. You can also help us fill the gaps in our knowledge of clouded leopard by providing any information on the species within. Sighting coordinates or the general location with brief description and photographs are even better.

You can also support the project by
•    providing us information on confirmed locations of clouded leopard
•    donating used or new research equipment like camera traps, GPS, cameras, tents
•    publicizing our efforts through various medias both social and traditional (electronic and print).
•    sharing with us any anecdotal/ethno-zoological information on the species
•    helping us develop materials that help in raising conservation awareness of general people (audio-visuals, posters, conservation games).
•    subscribing to our newsletter and getting the latest updates on our work

Supporters
We would like to thank all our supporters and well-wishers for your best wishes and encouragement, and hope to get your continued support in the future. Till now we have been able to garner financial support from Point Defiance zoo and aquarium, Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund grants in eastern Himalayas, Rufford Foundation, Bernd-Thies Stiftung. We have also been supported individually by various big hearted individuals via www.experiment.com for which we remain grateful.

Team Leader

Yadav Ghimirey (Project Leader)


Yadav Ghimirey has been involved in research and conservation of small and intermediate felids species in Nepal since 2008 with particular focus on Clouded Leopard. He is interested in the interspecific interaction among felid species particularly between clouded leopard and its big brother common leopard and prey-predator dynamics in the mid-hills of Nepal. He has M.Sc in Environmental management with a PG Diploma in International Wildlife Conservation practice.



Related Publications

1)
Westernmost record of spotted linsang from ACA
2)
An update on the status of clouded leopard in Nepal
3)
An assessment of status of felids in Hugu-Kori biodiversity hotspot within Annapurna Conservation Area
4)
Notes on the distribution of large Indian civet in Nepal
5)
First camera trap image of clouded leopard from Annapurna Conservation Area, Nepal
6)
Small Carnivores in the Annapurna Conservation Area, Nepal
7)
Records of Siberian seasel and yellow-bellied weasel from Makalu-Barun National Park, Nepal
8)
Status of felids in Makalu-Barun National Park, Nepal
9)
First camera trap image of Asiatic golden cat in Nepal
10) Status of Small Carnivores with a Special Focus on Clouded Leopard in Makalu-Barun National Park 

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