India’s most secretive big cat, Clouded leopard caught on camera. Viral video of rare animal stuns the internet

It’s not every day that one of the world’s most secretive wild cats appears on camera, but a now-viral video shared by retired Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer Susanta Nanda has done just that. The clip features a stunning and rare sighting of a clouded leopard mother with her cubs—animals so elusive and ethereal that spotting them in the wild is almost like glimpsing a myth in motion. And the internet can’t stop watching.

Sharing the video on X (formerly Twitter), Nanda described the encounter in awe: “Elusive. Ethereal. Endangered.” He added that with barely 10,000 clouded leopards left in the wild and only scattered sightings across Northeast India, this rare moment captured a “mother with her cubs, guardians of an ancient rainforest.” The visual, he said, was “a sight so rare that it’s mythical.”

About Clouded leopard

The clouded leopard may be named like a leopard, but it’s not one. According to the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, this species is genetically closer to big cats like tigers and lions. Despite their smaller stature, clouded leopards have long canine teeth (proportionally the longest of any wild cat), making them unique even among large felines. Their short legs and long tails help with balance, while their flexible anklebones and large padded paws are built for tree-climbing—allowing them to descend trunks headfirst.

These shy, tree-dwelling cats are mostly found in dense forests across Southeast Asia and parts of Northeast India. Their coats, marked with cloud-like blotches, offer natural camouflage in thick foliage. Interestingly, researchers have even documented black and pale albino forms of the species in Borneo, adding to their mysterious reputation.

As Nanda’s post quickly spread across social media, viewers flooded the comments with awe and admiration for both the animals and the rare moment caught on camera. One user admitted the cubs looked amazing. Another called it a fantastic and rare glimpse, expressing hope of spotting them one day at Manas National Park. Others were simply captivated by the moment, with many saying they couldn’t stop watching the beautiful big cats.