In a significant development of wildlife conservation within an area preserved for research purpose, a Clouded Leopard locally called as “Gung” was captured in the camera trap laid within the Fir and Mixed Conifer Forests at an elevation of 3490 masl. This elusive and endangered cat, known for its shiny spotted coat and nocturnal habits, has appeared for the first time in the UWIFoRT Research Preserve that was maintained since 2010. The Research Preserve was maintained for education and research purposes by the Ugyen Wangchuck Institute for Forestry Research and Training (UWIFoRT).

The camera trap, set up by the Center for Conservation as part of a mammal monitoring activity, continuously captured the clouded leopard on three occasions; 25th March and 3rd December in 2024, and 15th January 2025. The image footage (figures 1 and 2) clearly shows the animal's unique marking and peculiar behaviour of tossing the poop. The Clouded Leopard is the 6th cat species inhabiting the preserve area. The status of Clouded Leopard is assessed as Vulnerable as per the IUCN Red List of threatened species (Gray et. al., 2021).

This capture record is a major breakthrough for several reasons:

· Confirmation of Presence: It confirms the presence of clouded leopards within the mixed conifer montane forest ecoregion, providing valuable information for conservation planning and habitat protection.

· Behavior Insights: The footage may provide insights into the clouded leopard's distribution, behaviour, habitat use, and prey selection.

Conservationists are excited about this discovery and believe the photographic evidences will play a vital role in protecting this critically endangered species. UWIFoRT will constantly monitor installed camera traps on a monthly basis and we hope to increase the number of infrared cameras through an urgent funding support. The camera trap data will be analyzed and we hope to provide more exciting information about the clouded leopard’s behaviour and its population in the region.

Figure 1. Captured images of Clouded Leopard within UWIFoRT research preserve. (a) Captured on 25.3.2024 (b) Captured on 3.12.2024, (c) Captured on 15.1.2025.