India launches conservation plans for caracal, clouded leopard, fishing cat

India's Environment Ministry released action plans Tuesday to protect three lesser-known wild cats—caracal, clouded leopard, and fishing cat—focusing on habitat preservation, prey base, and anti-poaching efforts. These species face threats from habitat fragmentation, prey depletion, and climate change, having been neglected due to policy focus on larger cats. Caracals, with fewer than 50 wild individuals, are near extinction and now found only in Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh. The clouded leopard plan identifies 14 priority landscapes in northeast India, where populations have declined over 30 percent in three generations. Both species are now included in the ministry's Species Recovery Programme. Fishing cat conservation will target aquatic ecosystems including the Terai arc, Sunderban delta, and Chilika lagoon. The Wildlife Institute of India says the initiative will create a national database and atlas for these overlooked species, supporting future conservation policy.