Endangered flat-headed cats rediscovered in thailand after 29-year disappearance sparks conservation hope

In a remarkable conservation victory, one of the world’s most elusive wild cat species has been rediscovered in Thailand after nearly three decades of absence. Flat-headed cats, previously thought to be “possibly extinct” in the country, have been captured on camera traps in the peat swamp forests of Princess Sirindhorn Wildlife Sanctuary in southern Thailand.

The breakthrough discovery came through a collaborative effort between wildcat conservation organization Panthera and Thailand’s Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation. Their camera traps recorded an impressive 29 sightings of flat-headed cats (Prionailurus planiceps) between 2024 and early this year. Most encouraging of all, researchers documented a female with her cub—critical evidence that the population is actively reproducing in the wild.

“Rediscovering flat-headed cats in southern Thailand is an extraordinary moment for conservation,” said Wai Ming Wong, Panthera’s small cat conservation science director. The breeding evidence is particularly significant since flat-headed cats typically give birth to only one cub at a time, making population recovery extremely slow.

This discovery offers hope for one of the planet’s most endangered feline species. With an estimated global population of just 2,500 individuals scattered across wetlands and tropical rainforests in Borneo, Sumatra, and Peninsular Malaysia, every surviving population is crucial. The Thailand rediscovery demonstrates that intact wetland ecosystems can support even the most threatened carnivores, underscoring the vital importance of protecting these fragile habitats for wildlife conservation efforts.