100 Years Later, Scientists Identify New Wild Cat Species in Bolivia

Scientists have identified a previously unknown species of wild cat in Bolivia, marking the first discovery of a new feline species in more than a century.

The newly identified animal, known as the Tilcayo tiger cat, is a small wild feline characterised by its spotted, leopard-like coat. Researchers discovered the species in the mountainous Yungas region near La Paz, Bolivia’s capital.

The discovery was described by biologist and National Geographic Explorer Paola Nogales-Ascarrunz, a member of the research team, as a remarkable scientific development because no new wild cat species had been formally described for about 100 years.

According to Nogales-Ascarrunz, local residents who encountered the animal in the Bolivian Andes initially believed it was simply an ordinary domestic cat because of its relatively small size and appearance.

The animal was locally known as “Tilcayo,” a name that researchers have adopted in its scientific classification.

The species has been formally designated Leopardus tilcayo.
The discovery makes the Tilcayo the first newly recognised wild cat species since the Uruguayan pampas cat was identified in 1923.

Researchers said the Tilcayo is slightly smaller than a typical domestic cat, measuring about 45 centimetres in length.

It has a distinctive spotted coat and rounded ears, features that helped scientists distinguish it from other known feline species.

Only two Tilcayos have so far been identified by researchers. Both animals have undergone whole-genome sequencing, an advanced genetic analysis that enables scientists to examine an animal’s DNA in detail and compare it with that of related species.

One of the animals, a male, is currently being kept at an animal shelter in the Yungas region.

The animal had been taken in by a family before being handed over to the shelter.
The second, a female, was rescued and later released into the wild after it was attacked by local residents.

The scientific investigation into the animals began in 2021 and culminated in a study published on Thursday in the journal Current Biology.

Nogales-Ascarrunz said the species has, so far, only been detected in Bolivia, with no confirmed evidence that the Tilcayo exists anywhere else in the world.

However, the discovery has also raised concerns among conservationists and researchers about the species’ survival.

The Tilcayo has been classified as vulnerable to extinction, while scientists warn that its apparently small population could place it at an even greater risk of disappearing.

The researchers say additional studies will be necessary to establish the species’ exact population, geographical range, behaviour, habitat requirements and major threats.

The discovery also demonstrates that significant gaps remain in scientific knowledge of wildlife, particularly in remote and mountainous ecosystems.

Researchers believe continued field studies, genetic analysis and conservation efforts will be important in determining whether the newly identified species can survive in the wild.

For Bolivia, the discovery adds another species to the country’s rich biodiversity and highlights the ecological importance of the Yungas region, where scientists continue to study wildlife and other unique species.

Scientists are now expected to intensify research into the Tilcayo tiger cat to better understand its population and ensure that the species does not become threatened before it is fully studied and protected.