When Tadeu de Oliveira’s colleague asked him to examine photos of a small cat seen in an Ecuadorian forest in 2009, something did not add up. It was unlike any cat species previously seen in that region, yet it closely resembled two species that he was quite familiar with—the Atlantic forest tiger cat and the savanna tiger cat, both found in Brazil. Intrigued by this new cat’s spotted fur patterns, which were noticeably distinct from either tiger cats’, Tadeu had a hunch that there was more to uncover about this mystery cat. He and his peers would chew on this mystery for over a decade, until a new species—the clouded tiger cat—was formally recognized in 2024.
Conservationists like Tadeu must regularly navigate the limitations of available knowledge. He leads the Tiger Cats Conservation Initiative (TCCI), a partner of the Small Wild Cat Conservation Foundation, and is an authority on the species. Tiger cats are rarely witnessed in the wild, making them remarkably difficult to study and conserve. Prior to trail cameras, it was nearly impossible to see them, let alone notice variations. As this game-changing technology proliferated over the years, it enabled TCCI to study the unique characteristics of every tiger cat recorded across the Americas. When he received photos of tiger cats in Ecuador and Colombia with longer tails, different sized ears, and distinct spot patterns from those in Brazil, Tadeu was certain that a third species had been identified. But more proof was needed, so TCCI’s partners held a genetic analysis of different tiger cat scat and blood samples. This study verified that a new species, the clouded tiger cat, had been hidden in plain sight.
The study also revealed something concerning. For years, it was believed that tiger cats existed across northern South America. Using cameras deployed across 60 sites, TCCI created an updated map of the three tiger cats’ distribution, learning that each species did not share one giant connected range, but three smaller, separate ranges. Atlantic forest and savanna tiger cats live almost exclusively in Brazil, while clouded tiger cats have a long, narrow range through high altitude cloud forests from Central America to Bolivia. Staggeringly, the new map slashed the total ranges of all three species by roughly 50%. Insights like the updated distribution map, and the clouded tiger cat’s very discovery, are essential for TCCI to raise awareness and adapt their efforts to protect these threatened cats.
Despite their distinct characteristics, all three tiger cats share the same threats. To prevent retaliation against tiger cats due to livestock predation, TCCI builds improved henhouses among nearby communities. To prevent disease transmission from domestic animals, TCCI and their partners vaccinated over 3,000 domestic dogs and cats from Mexico to Chile. TCCI is advocating for state laws to make vaccinations mandatory and to protect more tiger cat habitat from agricultural development. To raise awareness for tiger cats, TCCI succeeded in getting the species named as the official symbol of the Brazilian state of Maranhão, and had traffic signs placed along roadways to prevent vehicle collisions with tiger cats crossing between fragmented habitats. Tadeu’s team also monitors deforestation, wildfires, and other habitat threats using satellite imagery.
After years spent unraveling the mysteries of tiger cats, Tadeu shows no signs of slowing down. The clouded tiger cat’s recent discovery shows the value of thorough research—and hunches—when crafting effective conservation strategies.