Context: The previous sighting in 2021 was after 23 years of the big cat went missing from the Buxa tiger reserve.
Buxa National Park
- Buxa Tiger Reserve was brought under Project Tiger in 1983 and became India’s fifteenth Tiger Reserve.
- Buxa Tiger reserve and National Park covers is located in North Bengal’s Alipurduar district.
- Its northern boundary runs along the international border with Bhutan.
- The Phibsoo Wildlife Sanctuary of Bhutan is contiguous to the north of BTR.
- Manas National Park lies east of BTR. BTR, thus, serves as international corridor for Asian elephant migration between India and Bhutan.
- To the south-west, the Chilapata Forests form an elephant corridor to the Jaldapara Wildlife Sanctuary.
- The eastern side of the Reserve forms the interstate boundary with Assam, demarcated by River Sankosh.
- Many rivers and streams intersect the Reserve, the important ones are the Rydak, Jainty, Bala and Dima
- Mammals presents include Asian elephant, gaur, Sambar deer, clouded leopard, Indian leopard, and Asian golden cat.
The clouded leopard is a felid species native to the forests of Southeast Asia, including parts of India. Despite being one of the most enigmatic and charismatic species of the cat family, clouded leopards remain relatively unknown due to their secretive nature and elusive habits.
https://www.indianetzone.com/15/indian_animals_clouded_leopard.htm