Decades Later, Wild Cat Makes a Quiet Comeback

Thailand has recorded its first confirmed sightings of the endangered flat-headed cat in nearly 30 years, offering renewed hope for a species once thought lost nationally.

“This is an extraordinary moment for conservation,” said Wai Ming Wong at Panthera, calling the rediscovery a powerful reminder of what intact habitats can still sustain.

Remote camera traps captured 29 detections across 2024 and 2025 in the peat swamp forest, including a female with a cub, a strong sign of local breeding. Fewer than 2,500 adult flat-headed cats are believed to exist globally, and the findings are expected to support a reassessment of the species’ national conservation status. Researchers say the images underline the value of protecting wetlands and river systems, showing that even the most elusive carnivores can persist when ecosystems remain healthy.