Meet the clouded leopard: elusive, tree-climbing, with canines longer than a tiger’s relative to its size. Found only in Northeast India, it’s been quietly disappearing; down 30% globally in 20 years. Now, a new 14-landscape action plan is kicking in, backed by camera traps, DNA tech, and community involvement. Meghalaya’s even launched ‘Mission Clouded Leopard’; their state animal; with 21 individuals already tracked in one forest. Why does this matter? Because protecting this cat means protecting entire forests, tribal lands, and India’s ecological balance. And here’s the twist: this isn’t just wildlife policy; it’s a test case for how India handles rare, non-charismatic species. If this works, it could reshape conservation beyond the ‘big five’.