Newly Identified Wild Cat Species Draws Crowds to Bolivian Sanctuary
A tiny wild cat in Bolivia has been confirmed as a new species, the first living wild cat described in over a century, prompting visitor interest at a sanctuary near La Paz.
A small spotted wild cat living in the cloud forests of Bolivia has been identified as a species new to science, drawing a wave of curious visitors to the wildlife sanctuary where he resides.
The feline, nicknamed Tigrino, belongs to Leopardus tilcayo — described as the first living wild cat species to be formally identified by scientists in more than a century. The finding was published on Thursday in the journal Current Biology.
Tigrino is smaller than an average house cat, measuring about 46 centimetres from head to the base of his tail and weighing roughly 1.4 kilograms. His coat carries large, leopardlike spots.
He has lived at the Senda Verde Wildlife Sanctuary since 2017, when a family brought him there after an unsuccessful attempt to keep him as a house pet. The sanctuary is located near La Paz.
News of the species designation spread quickly on social media, prompting people from across Bolivia and beyond to travel to the sanctuary in the hope of seeing him. But the attention comes with a complication: Tigrino is easily stressed, and caretakers keep him away from public view, turning away crowds seeking a closer look.
During a visit on Sunday, he emerged cautiously from his shelter, sniffed the air and paced for a few minutes before retreating into the foliage.
Sanctuary co-founder Marcelo Levy said Tigrino had quickly become an ambassador for conservation, and that the new species designation has helped raise awareness about the need to protect wild cats and their habitat in Bolivia's tropical forests.
"He's such a tiny animal, and he has become something so important," Levy said.