Clouded Leopard

Why in news?

• Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram — are taking steps to protect the endangered clouded leopard.

About the Clouded Leopard:

• The clouded leopard occurs from the Himalayan foothills in Nepal, Bhutan and India to Myanmar, southeastern Bangladesh, Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia, to south of the Yangtze River in China.
• It is the state animal of the Indian state of Meghalaya.

Range:

• In India, it occurs in Sikkim, northern West Bengal, Meghalaya subtropical forests, Tripura, Mizoram, Manipur, Assam, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh.
• They have been spotted in Pakke Tiger Reserve (Arunachal), Khangchendzonga Biosphere Reserve (Sikkim), Manas National Park (Assam), Dampa Tiger Reserve (Mizoram), Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary (Arunachal) and Singchung-Bugun Village Community Reserve (Arunachal), Meghalaya's Nongkhyllem National Park and Balpakram-Baghmara landscape (Meghalaya)

Threats and Conservation:

• IUCN status: Vulnerable
• Its total population is suspected to be fewer than 10,000 mature individuals, with a decreasing population trend.
• They are threatened by habitat loss and poaching.

PRELIMS QUESTION

Consider the following statements regarding Clouded Leopards:
1.They are endemic to India.
2.They are listed as vulnerable in the IUCN Red data list.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a)1 only
(b)2 only 
(c)Both 1 and 2 
(d)Neither 1 nor 2

Answer to prelims question