A wild cat that disappeared in the 1990s has been recorded in Thailand

After almost 30 years, the flat-headed cat, one of the rarest and most vulnerable wild members of the feline family, has been reintroduced to Thailand. The species was long thought to be probably extinct in the country. The unexpected discovery was reported by Thailand's Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation and the international conservation organisation Panthera.

The last documented sighting of the flat-headed cat in Thailand dated back to 1995. However, during environmental monitoring that began last year, scientists received 29 camera trap sightings at the Princess Sirindhorn Wildlife Sanctuary in the south of the country.

A rare find - and cause for alarm

The flat-headed cat is a small animal about the size of a domestic cat, characterised by a rounded head and close-set eyes. Its range is limited to Southeast Asia, and its numbers are in steep decline due to the destruction and fragmentation of its natural habitat.

According to veterinarian and researcher Kaset Sutatshi of Kasetsart University, the discovery is both hopeful and worrying. Because of fragmented patches of forests, populations are becoming increasingly isolated, making it difficult for the species to reproduce and survive.

It is not yet known how many cats have been discovered

The exact number of individuals is difficult to determine: the flat-headed cat has no individual spots or stripes by which to distinguish the animals. Nevertheless, experts believe that the number of sightings indicates a relatively high concentration of the species in the area.

A particularly encouraging signal was a video of a female with a calf, a rare occurrence as this species usually only produces one kitten at a time.

Hard-to-reach habitat

Flat-headed cats are nocturnal and favour wet ecosystems such as peat bogs and freshwater mangroves. These areas are difficult to access for research, which largely explains the rarity of sightings.

According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), there are about 2,500 adults in the wild today, and the species is officially recognised as endangered.

Threats to the species' survival

In Thailand, peat forests have been severely affected by agricultural development and land use change. Additional threats are posed by pet-borne diseases and the inability to migrate between isolated patches of habitat.

Experts emphasise: the rediscovery of the species is only a starting point. The main task now is to create conditions under which the rare cat can co-exist with humans without risk of extinction.