The size of a domestic cat.

>>A paper published in January 2024 described a third, new tiger cat species; Leopardus pardinoides. Dubbed the clouded tiger cat, the species is found in high-altitude cloud forests in Central and South America.

Colombia and Costa Rica are key locations for the conservation of Leopardus pardinoides. But preservation of Colombia’s clouded tiger cats faces difficult hurdles, including the urgent need for more research and protection conducted within key areas that lie inside conflict zones, say researchers. Image courtesy of Camilo Botero.

More:
https://news.mongabay.com/2024/04/a-tiger-cat-gains-new-species-designation-but-conservation-challenges-remain/

Cats are rather beautiful creatures when they are where they belong. Not that I would fancy meeting a big cat in their own habitat.

buffy said:

Cats are rather beautiful creatures when they are where they belong. Not that I would fancy meeting a big cat in their own habitat.

takes notes.

roughbarked said:

buffy said:

Cats are rather beautiful creatures when they are where they belong. Not that I would fancy meeting a big cat in their own habitat.

takes notes.

In Africa we met some big cats but we were accompanied by a 2 metre Zulu carrying a semi-automatic rifle.

buffy said:

Cats are rather beautiful creatures when they are where they belong. Not that I would fancy meeting a big cat in their own habitat.

Even if they are not in the right place they’re still beautiful. We humans have fucked it all up.

Nice. Thanks for sharing.

dv said:

Nice. Thanks for sharing.

ditto