Elusive, endangered wild cat seen in Thailand for the first time in 30 years

December 26, 2025 / 9:18 AM EST / CBS/AFP

Elusive, endangered wild cat seen in Thailand for the first time in 30 years

TL;DR

  • Flat-headed cats, among the world's most threatened wild felines, have been rediscovered in Thailand after a 30-year absence.
  • Camera traps in the Princess Sirindhorn Wildlife Sanctuary detected the cats 29 times during a recent survey.
  • Footage captured a female flat-headed cat with her cub, a rare and encouraging sign for the species.
  • The species is found only in Southeast Asia, typically in wetland ecosystems threatened by land conversion and agricultural expansion.
  • Conservationists view the rediscovery as a crucial starting point for future efforts to ensure the cats' survival.
  • Flat-headed cats have a diet of fish, frogs, and shrimp, are nocturnal, and elusive.