In a historic milestone for wildlife conservation, scientists have formally named and described Leopardus tilcayo marking the first time in over a century that a new living cat species has been identified.
The small, spotted feline was discovered hiding in plain sight at a Bolivian wildlife sanctuary. Nicknamed "Tigrino," the individual animal had lived quietly at the refuge for years after a local family took it in as a supposed house kitten.
Published in Current Biology, DNA analysis confirmed the cat belongs to a distinct, previously unknown lineage, shedding critical new light on South America's hidden biodiversity.
Watch this video from Associated Press.
Also Read:
Trump’s Iran Sanctions Have A China Problem
By Zongyuan Zoe Liu, Project Syndicate | Sep 18, 2026 US President Donald Trump is trying to pressure the Iranian regime by isolating it from the dollar-based financial system. But because Iran’s oil trade largely moves through Chinese banks and renminbi-based networks, those sanctions increasingly depend on financial
Project Syndicate
