Bolivian Cloud Forest Yields First New Wild Cat Species in Over a Century
Scientists have confirmed a new wild cat species, Leopardus tilcayo, in Bolivia's Yungas cloud forests. The discovery, based on DNA analysis of a 10-year-old cat named Tigrino, reveals that tiger cats comprise five distinct species rather than three. This finding, the first new feline species in over a century, highlights significant gaps in biodiversity knowledge and underscores the urgent need to protect vulnerable habitats in South America.