New Bolivian cat claws its way into species list: What we meow
Scientists have identified a new wild cat species, Leopardus tilcayo, in Bolivia's Yungas region, marking the first discovery of a new cat species in over a century. The finding, which followed nearly 10 years of research, highlights the biodiversity of the under-studied Andean cloud forest.
Why it matters
The discovery of a new large mammal species is rare and significant for biodiversity, conservation efforts, and understanding ecosystems, especially in under-studied regions like the Bolivian Yungas.
Purrfectly new to science: the first new wild cat found in more than a century proves that cats do have nine (secret) lives.
x whatsapp-stroke copylink google Add Al Jazeera on Google info A Leopardus tilcayo cat, a newly identified species through research led by National Geographic explorer Paola Nogales Ascarrunz, at the Senda Verde animal refuge in the Yungas region, Bolivia [File: Fernando Faciole/National Geographic/Reuters] By Heba Habib Published On 18 Sep 2026 18 Sep 2026 A new species of wildcat, discovered in Bolivia, has been formally identified after the accidental discovery of a lost kitten and nearly 10 years of painstaking research.
The Leopardus tilcayo, which local people in the Bolivian Yungas, a band of cloud forest which runs along the eastern slope of the Andes, were aware of, was previously thought to be related to other wildcats in the region.
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