New Wild Cat Species Identified in Bolivia’s Cloud Forests

Scientists have formally described Leopardus tilcayo, a previously unknown small spotted cat, as a distinct species. The discovery, published in *Current Biology*, marks the first new living wild-cat species to be named in more than a century. The animal, nicknamed Tigrino, lives at the Senda Verde Wildlife Sanctuary near La Paz, in Bolivia’s Yungas cloud-forest region.

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The cat was first rescued as a mud-covered kitten in 2016 by a local resident who assumed it was a domestic pet. After a year of displaying wild behavior, the animal was transferred to Senda Verde, where biologist Paola Nogales-Ascarrunz of the Universidad Mayor de San Andrés recognized its unusual markings. Genetic analysis by an international team led by Professor Eduardo Eizirik of the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul confirmed that the cat diverged about 1.4 million years ago from other members of the tiger-cat complex. The genus *Leopardus* now comprises five recognized species, following recent splits of the northern, southern, eastern, and clouded tiger cats.

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• Size: approximately 46 cm (18 in) from head to tail base.

Tiny wild cat discovered as new species becomes tourist attraction in Bolivia

• Weight: about 1.4 kg (3 lb), smaller than an average house cat.

Tiny New Tiger Cat Species Discovered!

• Divergence: roughly 1.4 million years from its closest relatives.

New Wild Cat Species Discovered in Bolivia's Yungas Forest, First in 100 Years — BigGo Finance

• Discovery timeline: rescued in 2016, entered sanctuary in 2017, DNA work completed over the next few years, and species description published in 2024.

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Professor Eizirik emphasized the rarity of the find, noting that it is the first new cat species named in a century. Nogales-Ascarrunz highlighted the need for rapid ecological study, given that the Yungas forest faces ongoing mining, deforestation, and illegal pet-trade pressures. Sanctuary co-founder Marcelo Levy said the species designation has turned Tigrino into a “conservation ambassador,” raising public awareness of wild-cat protection in Bolivia’s tropical forests.

Tiny wild cat identified as new species draws curious visitors in Bolivia

Visitors to Senda Verde report brief sightings of Tigrino, who emerges cautiously from shelter before retreating to dense foliage. Caretakers keep the animal out of direct view because the cat becomes easily stressed by crowds. Trail cameras have been installed to capture its natural behavior, though details about diet, reproduction, and wild population size remain unknown.

Tiny wild cat discovered as new species becomes tourist attraction in Bolivia

• “He’s such a tiny animal, and he has become something so important,” — Marcelo Levy, said sanctuary co-founder

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• “Our world is extremely complex. Sometimes we think that most of it is known, that there’s not a whole lot to discover, but in fact, it’s the other way around.” — Paola Nogales-Ascarrunz, bolivian biologist

Tiny New Tiger Cat Species Discovered!

• “We have discovered a new cat species that has never been scientifically named before,” — Professor Eizirik, led by professor

New Wild Cat Species Discovered in Bolivia's Yungas Forest, First in 100 Years — BigGo Finance

• “South America has so many barriers that can geographically isolate animal populations that more cat species may yet be discovered.” — UC Davis School, of Veterinary Medicine

New Wild Cat Species Discovered in Bolivia's Yungas Forest, First in 100 Years — BigGo Finance

Researchers plan to expand camera surveys throughout the Yungas to locate additional individuals and assess habitat use. Conservation groups are urging the Bolivian government to strengthen protections against mining and deforestation in the region, aiming to preserve the fragile ecosystem that supports *Leopardus tilcayo* and other endemic wildlife.

Tiny wild cat identified as new species draws curious visitors in Bolivia