A clouded leopard, a type of wild cat listed as an endangered species, has been seen for the first time in about 20 years on Phanom Dong Rak mountain in Si Sa Ket province, a senior conservation official said on Friday.
Chaiwat Limlikhit-aksorn, director of the 9th Conservation Area Administration Office, said a camera trap installed on the mountain from Nov 1-24 had filmed a lone mid-sized clouded leopard.
"Today in the Phanom Dong Rak Wildlife Sanctuary there is a clouded leopard, which is a medium-sized predator. The sighting of this wild cat is down to the efforts of park rangers to protect the forest and intensify anti-poaching patrols," Mr Chaiwat told media.
Thanks to relentless forest protection, forest habitat has been rehabilitated as well as water and food sources for wild animals, prompting wildlife species to return.
It has also become common for small predators such as foxes to be frequently spotted, he said.
Rare sightings of the endangered nocturnal cat have been reported in Kaeng Krachan National Park, Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary, Khao Sok National Park and Khao Yai National Park.