New wildcat species discovered in Bolivia, first in 100 years

Scientists have announced the discovery of a new wild‑cat species, marking the first such identification in more than a century. The finding was reported on Thursday by a Bolivian researcher speaking to AFP, who said the animal was uncovered during a recent biodiversity survey in the country’s remote forested regions.

The newly described feline, identified through a combination of field observations, morphological assessment and genetic analysis, adds to the roughly 38 wild‑cat species currently recognized worldwide. Researchers noted that the species appears to inhabit the high‑elevation cloud forests of the Bolivian Andes, an ecosystem known for its endemic wildlife. The discovery underscores the region’s rich but still incompletely catalogued biodiversity and is expected to prompt further scientific study and conservation attention to protect the habitat of this previously unknown predator.