A Unique Feline in Bolivia Confirmed as a New Species

Genetic analysis has revealed a previously unrecognized species of small wild cat native to the dense Yungas forests of Bolivia. Scientifically classified as Leopardus tilcayo, the domestic-cat-sized feline had long gone unnoticed due to its striking visual resemblance to other spotted tiger cats native to Central and South America.

The breakthrough traces back to a single individual: a 10-year-old rescue animal named “Tigrino.” A local resident originally took the animal in as an orphaned kitten, believing it to be a common domestic cat. As wild behaviors emerged over time, Tigrino was relocated to a wildlife sanctuary in Bolivia.

While volunteering at the facility, researcher Paola Nogales-Ascarrunz of the Universidad Mayor de San Andrés spotted physical anomalies that prompted a deeper genetic investigation. DNA testing ultimately proved that Tigrino did not belong to any previously cataloged group, establishing Leopardus tilcayo as a distinct lineage.

Currently, Tigrino remains the only living specimen definitively confirmed by science. However, field reports of similar spotted cats in Bolivia’s Yungas region suggest that a wild population exists.

Unlike charismatic apex predators such as jaguars and pumas, Central and South America’s diverse small felines frequently lack research funding and conservation focus. Biologists hope this discovery underscores the biodiversity still hidden in mainland cloud forests and drives urgent protection efforts for vulnerable Neotropical cat species.