Former IFS officer shares video of rare clouded leopard and her cubs in Indonesia's rainforest

Rare Clouded Leopard Family Caught on Camera in Indonesia's Rainforest. (Image: Canva)

A quiet moment in the forest has gone viral. A rare video of a clouded leopard family has captured hearts across the internet. The 22-second clip, showing a mother and her two cubs, offers a rare look into the secret lives of these elusive cats.

Elusive big cat filmed in Tanjung Puting National Park

The footage was shared on X by retired Indian Forest Service officer Susanta Nanda. It originally came from the Orangutan Foundation’s YouTube channel. Shot in Indonesia’s Tanjung Puting National Park, the video was captured using a camera trap set deep in the forest.

The mother leopard leads her cubs calmly through the undergrowth. Just before they disappear, one curious cub pauses and looks into the camera. That moment added a magical pause, drawing admiration from viewers worldwide.

Elusive. Ethereal. Endangered.

With barely ~10,000 left in the wild & scattered sightings in NE India, the Clouded Leopard is our most secretive big cat.

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Here, a rare glimpse — a mother with her cubs, guardians of an ancient rainforest. A sight so rare that it’s mythical. pic.twitter.com/bXZxagyM0Y

— Susanta Nanda IFS (Retd) (@susantananda3) August 5, 2025

Only 10,000 remain in the wild, say experts

Clouded leopards are rarely seen in the wild, especially with young. There are fewer than 10,000 of them left globally. Sightings in Northeast India remain limited. Park officials said this was the first time they recorded a mother with two cubs in this region. They added the sighting gives hope for the species' survival.

Social media users flooded the post with reactions. One person said, “We are blessed to have such species with us.” Another wrote, “Simply beautiful.” A third commented on the curious cub, saying, “The second one is the inquisitive one.”

Viewers stunned by rare glimpse of forest life

Many called it a mythical sight, with some urging for more land to be returned to forests. Nanda captioned the post with praise for the rare cat. He wrote, “Elusive. Ethereal. Endangered,” calling them “guardians of an ancient rainforest.”

The video has crossed over 446,000 views online. It gave people a brief but beautiful moment to admire wildlife. It was a reminder of nature’s quiet wonders and the need to protect them.