Rare Wild Cat Rediscovered in Thailand After Three Decades

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An elusive wild cat long feared extinct in Thailand has been rediscovered three decades after the last recorded sighting, conservation authorities and an NGO said on Friday.

Flat-headed cats are among the world’s rarest and most threatened wild felines. Their range is limited to Southeast Asia and they are endangered because of dwindling habitat.

The domestic cat-sized feline with its distinctive round and close-set eyes was last spotted in a documented sighting in Thailand in 1995.

But an ecological survey that began last year, using camera traps in southern Thailand’s Princess Sirindhorn Wildlife Sanctuary, recorded 29 detections, according to the country’s Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation and wild cat conservation organisation Panthera.

The recent rediscovery of the elusive flat-headed cat in Thailand has sparked a mix of excitement and concern among conservationists. According to veterinarian and researcher Kaset Sutasha from Kasetsart University, the ongoing fragmentation of the species’ habitat has resulted in increased isolation, posing a significant threat to their survival.

Two people in camouflage uniform tying a wire to a tree

This important ecological survey, carried out by Thailand’s Department of National Parks, Wildlife, and Plant Conservation in collaboration with Panthera Thailand, has revealed the presence of this rare feline. However, determining the exact number of these cats remains challenging due to their lack of distinctive markings, which complicates accurate counting.

The flat-headed cat is known for its nocturnal and elusive nature, typically inhabiting dense wetland environments like peat swamps and freshwater mangroves. These areas are notoriously difficult for researchers to access, further compounding the challenges of studying and protecting the species.

Globally, the International Union for Conservation of Nature estimates that around 2,500 adult flat-headed cats remain in the wild, classifying the species as endangered.

In Thailand, it has long been listed as “possibly extinct”.

Thailand’s peat swamp forests have been heavily fragmented, largely due to land conversion and agricultural expansion, said Kaset, who was not involved in the ecological survey but has researched wild cats for years.

The animals also face mounting threats from disease spread by domestic animals, and they struggle to reproduce across isolated areas.

While the rediscovery offers hope, it is only a “starting point” for future conservation efforts, he said.

“What comes after this is more important — how to enable them to live alongside us sustainably, without being threatened.”