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Newly Identified Tiny Wild Cat Does Not Like His Celebrity
newser.com • • world
Key Points:
- A newly identified wild cat species, Leopardus tilcayo, nicknamed "Tigrino," has become a popular but elusive attraction at a wildlife sanctuary near La Paz, Bolivia.
- Tigrino is notably small, measuring just 18 inches from head to tail base and weighing around 3 pounds, smaller than most house cats.
- The discovery of this species, the first new wild cat identified in over a century, was published in Current Biology and has generated significant public and social media interest.
- Sanctuary caretakers keep Tigrino out of public view to prevent stress, as the cat is sensitive to attention despite the influx of visitors eager to see him.
- Marcelo Levy, co-founder of the Senda Verde Wildlife Sanctuary, highlighted Tigrino's role in raising conservation awareness for wild cats and their habitats in Bolivia’s tropical forests.
