First-ever photo of clouded leopard eating a slow loris captured in India
In December 2024, a camera trap deep in Assam’s Dehing Patkai National Park recorded something never before seen: a clouded leopard carrying a Bengal slow loris in its jaws. The image, shared widely on social media by Assam’s Forest Minister, made waves in conservation circles—and not just for its novelty. It provides the first photographic evidence of this predator-prey interaction, offering vital insights into the diet of a notoriously elusive cat, reports Nabarun Guha.
Both species are nocturnal and arboreal, rendering direct observation almost impossible. “This finding contributes to our understanding of predatory behavior and diet,” said Bilal Habib of the Wildlife Institute of India, which led the study. Clouded leopards are believed to prey on a wide range of animals, but hard data in the Indian context has been sparse.
Dehing Patkai is India’s only protected area known to shelter eight wild cat species. That a single photo captured two of its shyest residents highlights the park’s ecological richness—and the importance of ongoing conservation efforts. As forests shrink and threats rise, such glimpses into the lives of hidden species become both rarer and more crucial.