# Newly discovered wild cat species faces 3 major threats

> Newly discovered wild cat species faces 3 major threats to its existence.
- Title: Newly discovered wild cat species faces 3 major threats
- Summary: Newly discovered wild cat species faces 3 major threats to its existence. The Leopardus tilcayo, a new tiger cat species found in Bolivia, faces habitat…
- Keywords: leopardus tilcayo, bolivia, tiger cat, habitat loss, hunting, disease, iucn, conservation, Newly, discovered, wild, cat
- Source: Newsweek — https://newsweek.com/new-tiger-cat-species-tilcayo-bolivia-species-risk-extinction-12462051
- Published: 2026-09-18T20:00:19+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: leopardus tilcayo, bolivia, tiger cat, habitat loss, hunting, disease, iucn, conservation
## New species discovered
The Leopardus tilcayo, a new species of tiger cat, is the first novel living cat species discovered in over 100 years.
## Discovered in Bolivia
The cat was found in the Bolivian Yungas, a cloud forest in the eastern Andes, after a local man fed it noodles, rice, and eggs.
## Two live specimens
One male lives at La Senda Verde Animal Refuge and one female was released there after being captured.
## Three major threats
The Leopardus tilcayo faces habitat loss, hunting, and diseases transmitted by domestic animals as key threats to its survival.
## No human threat
The Tilcayo is a shy, small cat that avoids humans and poses no threat to people or other animals.
## Local name origin
Communities in Bolivia refer to the cat as 'tilcayo', which researchers kept as a tribute to local usage.
## Next steps for research
Researchers will study the cat's distribution, habitat, and population structure to better understand its conservation needs.
## Key takeaway

The Leopardus tilcayo, a new tiger cat species found in Bolivia, faces habitat loss, hunting, and disease threats from domestic animals.