Bolivian Cloud Forest Yields First New Wild Cat Species in a Century
Researchers have identified a new wild cat species, the tilcayo (Leopardus tilcayo), in Bolivia’s Yungas cloud forest, marking the first new large mammal cat discovery in 100 years. The species, smaller than a house cat, was confirmed through genomic analysis of 38 samples, revealing it diverged from other lineages 1.4 million years ago. While local communities knew of the animal, its scientific description is novel, prompting urgent conservation efforts as its habitat faces agricultural expansion.