Newly Discovered Small Wild Cat Attracts Visitors in Bolivia

WHO:

ABC News - The tiny wild cat has been affectionately dubbed "Tigrino."

ABC News - Marcelo Levy is a co-founder of the Senda Verde Wildlife Sanctuary.

WHAT:

Phys.org - A tiny wild cat has been identified as a brand new species, named Leopardus tilcayo.

ABC News - Tigrino is 18 inches (46 centimeters) long from head to the base of his tail and weighs 3 pounds (1.4 kilograms).

ABC News - The discovery of the new species was published in the journal Current Biology.

ABC News - Tigrino has become an ambassador for conservation, raising awareness about the need to protect wild cats and their habitat.

WHERE:

ABC News - The wild cat is located in the cloud forests of Bolivia, specifically at the Senda Verde Wildlife Sanctuary near La Paz.

WHEN:

ABC News - Tigrino has lived at the Senda Verde Wildlife Sanctuary since 2017.

WHY:

ABC News - The new species designation has helped raise awareness about the need to protect wild cats and their habitat in Bolivia’s tropical forests.

HOW:

ABC News - Caretakers at the wildlife sanctuary keep Tigrino out of public view to reduce his stress from attention.

(UPDATED September 21, 2026 20:01 UTC)

A tiny wild cat, affectionately named Tigrino, has been identified as a brand new species called Leopardus tilcayo, with his discovery published in the journal Current Biology. Tigrino, who measures 18 inches long and weighs just 3 pounds, has been living at the Senda Verde Wildlife Sanctuary in Bolivia since 2017, where he serves as an ambassador for conservation efforts. Caretakers at the sanctuary keep him out of public view to minimize stress, while raising awareness about the importance of protecting wild cats and their habitats in the region's tropical forests.