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New wild cat species identified in Bolivia, first in over a century

New wild cat species identified in Bolivia, first in over a century

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Tiny spotted Tilcayo tiger cat was long mistaken for its relatives

September 20th, 2026: Tourists flock to see Tilcayo at Senda Verde

Overview

Updated Sep 22

A tiny spotted cat from Bolivia's cloud forests has been identified as the first new living cat species in over a century. The Tilcayo tiger cat (Leopardus tilcayo) is smaller than a house cat and was long mistaken for its relatives.

The only captive Tilcayo, a male named Tigrino, now draws visitors to the Senda Verde sanctuary near Coroico. Genetic analysis of 38 cat samples showed 'tiger cats' are five species, not three. Only two living Tilcayos are known, and the Yungas cloud forest faces deforestation, mining, fires, and wildlife trafficking.

Why it matters

A newly discovered cat species may face extinction before scientists can study it, and conservation must now cover five tiger cat lineages, not three.

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Key Indicators

1
New cat species identified
Leopardus tilcayo, first new living cat species since 1923
2
Known living Tilcayo individuals
One in sanctuary, one released into the wild
5
Tiger cat species now recognized
Up from 3 previously recognized species
1
New tiger cat subspecies named
Leopardus tigrinus antisuyo, found in Peru's Yungas
38
Cat genomes analyzed
Samples from 8 countries across South and Central America
1.4M
Years since Tilcayo diverged
From other tiger cat lineages
80%
Max tiger cat population decline
Some lineages are down 80% from historical highs
63%
Tilcayo population decline (genetic estimate)
Estimated from genetic diversity over thousands of years, not a head count

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People Involved

PN
Paola Nogales-Ascarrunz
Lead researcher, National Geographic Explorer
Led the study identifying Leopardus tilcayo
 Jonas Lescroart
Jonas Lescroart
Evolutionary biologist, University of Antwerp
Co-author of the study
 Caroline Sartor
Caroline Sartor
Researcher, University of Oxford
Co-researcher on the study
T
Tigrino
Type specimen, the cat that led to the discovery
Living at Senda Verde Wildlife Sanctuary, now a tourist attraction
ML
Marcelo Levy
Co-founder, Senda Verde Wildlife Sanctuary
Leading Tigrino's care as the sanctuary draws visitors

Organizations Involved

Senda Verde Wildlife Sanctuary
Senda Verde Wildlife Sanctuary
Wildlife rehabilitation center
Home to Tigrino, now drawing tourists; co-founder calls him a conservation ambassador

A wildlife rehabilitation center near Coroico, Bolivia, where the Tilcayo tiger cat was first identified.
Current Biology
Current Biology
Peer-reviewed journal
Published the study identifying the new species

A peer-reviewed scientific journal that published the study identifying Leopardus tilcayo.
IUCN Red List
IUCN Red List
Conservation status tracker
Currently classifies tiger cats as two vulnerable species; review upcoming

The International Union for Conservation of Nature's Red List tracks species extinction risk.

Timeline

2017 September 2026

4 events Latest: September 20th, 2026 · 1 month ago
Tap a bar to jump to that date

  1. Tourists flock to see Tilcayo at Senda Verde

    Latest Development

    Visitors streamed to Senda Verde sanctuary near Coroico hoping to glimpse Tigrino, the only captive Tilcayo, after the species was announced.

  2. Study identifies new cat species

    Publication

    Current Biology publishes research naming Leopardus tilcayo, the first new living cat species since 1923.

  3. Research begins on cat's identity

    Investigation

    Scientists began investigating whether the sanctuary cat was a known tiger cat species.

  4. Tigrino arrives at Senda Verde sanctuary

    Discovery

    Family turned over the cat they'd kept as a pet after realizing it was wild.

Scenarios

1

More Tilcayo cats found in Bolivian cloud forests

Possible Resolves by End of 2027

Discussed by: Researchers including Paola Nogales-Ascarrunz and Jonas Lescroart

Camera trap surveys in the Yungas cloud forest could reveal more Tilcayo individuals. The researchers have shared their findings with the IUCN and plan to expand field surveys. Finding more individuals would help estimate population size and range.

2

IUCN upgrades Tilcayo to endangered status

Likely Resolves by Q2 2027

Discussed by: Jonas Lescroart, co-author of the study

The IUCN Red List currently treats tiger cats as two 'vulnerable' species. The upcoming review will assess the five lineages separately. Tilcayo could be listed as endangered given its tiny known population and habitat threats.

3

Tilcayo found outside Bolivia

Uncertain Resolves by End of 2028

Discussed by: Researchers involved in the study

The species has only been detected in Bolivia, but the Yungas cloud forest extends into Peru. Surveys in neighboring regions could reveal a wider range. This would change conservation planning.

4

Tourism at Senda Verde grows, reshaping Tigrino's care

Possible

Discussed by: Washington Post reporting from Coroico

The discovery turned Tigrino into an unlikely tourist attraction, drawing visitors to the sanctuary. More crowds could bring funding and public support, or stress the animal and complicate his care.

5

Field surveys misidentify Tilcayos as similar cats

Likely Resolves by Q3 2027

Discussed by: Researchers in the Current Biology study

The team found two animals previously identified as tilcayos were actually margays, a different wild cat species. Camera-trap surveys that rely on visual identification alone could mislabel cats, so Tilcayo population estimates may stay unreliable until genetic confirmation becomes routine.

Historical Context

3 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.

August 2013

Olinguito discovery (2013)

Researchers identified the olinguito, a small raccoon relative, as a new species in the cloud forests of Colombia and Ecuador. It was the first new carnivore species discovered in the Americas in 35 years.

Then

The discovery prompted conservation assessments and habitat protection efforts in the Andes.

Now

Showed that cloud forest biodiversity was underappreciated and that museum specimens could reveal new species.

Why this matters now

Like the Tilcayo, the olinguito was a small mammal in Andean cloud forests that went unnoticed despite being in plain sight.

March 2007

Sunda clouded leopard (2007)

Genetic analysis showed the clouded leopards of Borneo and Sumatra were a distinct species from those on the mainland, diverging over a million years ago.

Then

The Sunda clouded leopard was recognized as vulnerable, prompting conservation attention.

Now

Demonstrated that genetic analysis could reveal cryptic cat species that look identical.

Why this matters now

Showed that what looks like one cat species can actually be several, a pattern now confirmed in tiger cats.

1923

Uruguayan pampas cat (1923)

Leopardus fasciatus was described from Uruguay, the last new living cat species named before the Tilcayo.

Then

Expanded the known diversity of South American small cats.

Now

Set the record for the longest gap between new cat species discoveries.

Why this matters now

Directly frames the significance of the Tilcayo discovery, the first new living cat species in over a century.

Sources

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BBC News NBC News Live Science The Washington Post CNN Phys.org Scientific American ABC News The Telegraph Al Jazeera CBS News Newsweek PBS News National Geographic Los Angeles Times CNA Associated Press via The Philadelphia Inquirer Earth.com New Scientist The Washington Post