New wild cat species Tilkayo discovered in Bolivia
DNA testing confirms a new species of wild cat, Tilkayo, in Bolivia, with only one known living specimen.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
A previously unknown species of wild cat has been identified in Bolivia through DNA testing. Named Tilkayo (scientific name Leopardus tilkayo), the small spotted feline had been mistaken for a tiger cat, a group of wild cats found across Central and South America.
The discovery came from a single living specimen. About a decade ago, a villager in the mountain forests of Bolivia found a small cat he believed to be a domestic kitten and took it home. After a year of living with its strange noises and a taste for the neighbour's chickens, the animal was handed over to a cat sanctuary. There, a volunteer noticed something unusual and researchers later analysed its DNA.
"When we analyzed the DNA, we saw the DNA are different from these tiger cats," one researcher said. The results showed the cat belonged to a distinct species, making it the fifth genetically distinct type of tiger cat known to science. Previously, four were recognised.
The Tilkayo is smaller than a domestic cat, with leopard-like spots. Its hair is shorter than that of some related Colombian cats, and its tail does not have the rings seen in other tiger cat species. It lives in the cloud forest of the Bolivian Andes, though its population size remains unknown; only one living specimen has been confirmed.
Researchers said the find was a reminder that new species can still be discovered close to home. "For me it's amazing that there is still new species waiting to be discovered. So we don't have to go to a volcano or an island or deep in the sea. We have it around us," one said.
The scientists also hope the discovery will draw attention to the threats facing smaller wild cats, such as illegal wildlife trade, deforestation and climate change. With public focus often on larger charismatic cats like leopards, the Tilkayo's existence may help highlight the vulnerability of lesser-known species.
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | BBC News | BBC One | ITV |
|---|---|---|---|
| A man brought the cat to a rescue centre after finding it as a kitten. | · | ||
| DNA testing revealed a previously unknown cat species in Bolivia, which had been mistaken for a tiger cat. | · | ||
| Only one living specimen of the Tilkayo has been confirmed, found in an animal shelter. | · | · | |
| The Tilkayo is a type of tiger cat, making five genetically distinct species in that group. | · | · | |
| The Tilkayo species lives in the cloud forest of the Bolivian Andes. | · | · |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
BBC News focused on the element of surprise, describing the cat as 'hiding in plain sight'. It highlighted the researcher's reflection that new species can be found without travelling to remote areas, and connected the discovery to broader concerns about smaller wild cats facing similar threats to big cats. It did not give the scientific name or details about the single living specimen.
- “For me it's amazing that there is still new species waiting to be discovered. So we don't have to go to a volcano or an island or deep in the sea. We have it around us.”
- “That arrived in Santa Verde like 10 years ago somehow. He was brought by a guy that mistook the cat for a kitten in the forest while he was walking.”
- “Meet Tigrino, the wild cat that turned out to be something entirely new to science.”
BBC One West emphasised that this was the first new wildcat species discovered in more than a century, a claim not made by the other BBC bulletins. It also named the cat Tigrino and presented the discovery as a significant scientific event. The report did not include scientific classification or population details.
- “A new species of wildcat has been discovered for the first time in more than a century.”
- “Named Tigrino by researchers, the small feline was found in the forests of Bolivia.”
ITV1 provided the most detailed scientific account, giving the species' scientific name (Leopardus tilkayo), its habitat in the Bolivian Andes, and the fact that it is smaller than a domestic cat. It explained how DNA analysis distinguished it from other tiger cat species and stressed that only one living specimen exists. It also placed the discovery in the context of broader threats to wildlife.
- “When we analyzed the Dinie, we saw the Dinie are different from these tiger cats. I mean, like, the ones that are in Venezuela, or the ones that are in Brazil, with the ones that are in Bolivia. That's how we can see pair these cats, and that we are knowing that they are another species of cat.”
- “The Lepardus Tilkayo is smaller than a domestic cat. Also, the hair of the Colombian ones are longer than the hair of the Tilkayo. Also, the tail of the Tilkayo doesn't have, like, rings, the spots.”
- “Over 30,000 species are threatened with extinction. You've got the illegal wildlife trade, climate change, the pet trade, illegal logging and deforestation, depletion in prey, poaching, hunting.”
Broadcast Timeline
News broadcasts tracked for this story, in time order.