Scientists Find New Bolivian Wildcat
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Researchers discovered a new wild cat species, called the tilcayo (Leopardus tilcayo), in Bolivia’s Andes cloud forests — the first such feline identified in over 100 years.
Leopardus tilcayo, the first new cat species discovered in 100 years.
Hiding in plain sight in the Bolivian yungas.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Hiding in plain sight in the Bolivian yungas.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Spotted wildcat from Bolivian forest revealed as new species
A spotted wildcat long mistaken for relatives has been identified as a new species in Bolivia.
www.bbc.co.uk
September 18, 2026 at 8:48 AM
Leopardus tilcayo, the first new cat species discovered in 100 years.
Hiding in plain sight in the Bolivian yungas.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Hiding in plain sight in the Bolivian yungas.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
…such distinctions add urgency to conservation efforts. “Once three species become five species, each population is reduced,” he says. “Therefore conservation efforts must increase, perhaps urgently, depending on estimated population sizes.”
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www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/arti...
Meet the First New Cat Species Discovered in 100 Years
A small, spotted tiger cat from Bolivia may just be the beginning of a wave of new small cat species.
www.nationalgeographic.com
September 19, 2026 at 5:55 AM
…such distinctions add urgency to conservation efforts. “Once three species become five species, each population is reduced,” he says. “Therefore conservation efforts must increase, perhaps urgently, depending on estimated population sizes.”
www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/arti...
www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/arti...
BBC News - Spotted wildcat from Bolivian forest revealed as new species - BBC News
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www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Spotted wildcat from Bolivian forest revealed as new species
A spotted wildcat long mistaken for relatives has been identified as a new species in Bolivia.
www.bbc.co.uk
September 18, 2026 at 1:02 PM
BBC News - Spotted wildcat from Bolivian forest revealed as new species - BBC News
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by John R. Hutchinson
the cat is from bolivia and described by a bolivian scientist who literally works with the local community to protect and preserve the wildlife, so I'm not entirely sure how that can be construed as "colonizing"
Not new, and not discovered...still great news.
I offer a, perhaps, more accurate, less colonizing, title:
"Western scientists describe a felid known to local communities as Tilcayo. It is the first description of its kind in over a century"
I offer a, perhaps, more accurate, less colonizing, title:
"Western scientists describe a felid known to local communities as Tilcayo. It is the first description of its kind in over a century"
🧪 New cat species identified in Bolivia, first in over a century - Called Tilcayo by local communities, it is part of a group called tiger cats found across much of South America
www.reuters.com/business/env...
www.reuters.com/business/env...
September 18, 2026 at 11:01 AM
the cat is from bolivia and described by a bolivian scientist who literally works with the local community to protect and preserve the wildlife, so I'm not entirely sure how that can be construed as "colonizing"
“This cat, they call it tilcayo. And when you ask, ‘Does it have some meaning in Quechua or Almyra and other Indigenous languages?’ they say, ‘No, my grandpa told me that’s the tilcayo.’ This is a traditional knowledge that they have in the community.”
September 18, 2026 at 4:49 PM
“This cat, they call it tilcayo. And when you ask, ‘Does it have some meaning in Quechua or Almyra and other Indigenous languages?’ they say, ‘No, my grandpa told me that’s the tilcayo.’ This is a traditional knowledge that they have in the community.”