Flat-headed cat spotted again in Thailand for the first time in almost 30 years. They had given up hope
For the first time in almost 30 years, a flat-headed cat — a rare wild animal on the verge of extinction — has been recorded in the forests of Thailand. Moreover, it's not an isolated case, but indicates the presence of a small population.
Flat-headed cat. Photo: © DNP / Panthera Thailand
The last confirmed contact with this cat, which is similar in size to a domestic cat and feeds mainly on fish, dates back to 1995 and occurred near the border of Thailand and Malaysia. By 2014, with no new evidence, the country's authorities seriously believed that this species had completely disappeared from Thailand.
As reported by Mongabay, Urs Breitenmoser, co-chair of the IUCN Cat Specialist Group, recently announced that after almost three decades of absence, traces of the flat-headed cat were found in the forests of the Princess Sirindhorn Wildlife Sanctuary.
The finding gained particular value because researchers also recorded a kitten. This indicates that not just a few individuals exist in the region, but animals that are successfully reproducing. It is known that a female flat-headed cat usually gives birth to only one kitten, so this fact is considered very significant.
These cats are known for their exceptional stealth. They inhabit swamp forests, which are difficult for humans to access due to challenging natural conditions. This is why the species remained unnoticed for a long time.
Last year, the Panthera organization, together with Thailand's Department of National Parks, began an ecological study in the south of the country. Scientists had to navigate dangerous peat swamps with chest-deep water and dense mangrove thickets to set up camera traps.
As a result, in 2024, cameras recorded 13 instances of the flat-headed cat, and in 2025, another 16. Previously, studies were limited to the forest edges, but new data suggest that significantly more animals might live deep within the forest areas than previously thought.
Scientists call this discovery encouraging and an important step in the conservation of one of the world's rarest wild cat species.
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