As we have noted, better genetic understanding is changing the way scientists look at many felines. Today’s example is Leopardus tigrinus, which used to be known as the oncilla or the tigrina. Now the threatened “tiny tigers” (as they sometimes are called” are spilt into two species. The northern l.eopardus tigrinus and the southern L. gutulus.
Further study has shed light on the threatened “tiny tigers” (about half the size of a housecat) and what is causing decline in numbers.
According to the BBC the threat to the cats may have a solution.
“The wildcat lives only in central and southern Chile and in a narrow strip of Argentina. According to the IUCN, there are only about 10,000 individuals left in the wild.
Its natural habitat is rainforest, but it has also been seen in pine or eucalyptus plantations or close to agricultural areas.
Research led by the University of Kent, UK, found that habitat fragmentation, and the subdivision of large farms into smaller ones, are the biggest threats facing the animal.”
But recent studies also shows the cats are resilient and can survive well close to humans. That raises the possibility that farming, livestock raising and timber harvesting can be modified to give the cats a chance to survive.
Not much is known about their feeding habits. It is assumed that most of what they eat is small and found on the ground. The cats should be able to find sufficient rodents if they are able to live close to people. The study seems to suggest that people do kill the cats if they think they are eating hens or other livestock . That appears to be a smaller threat than once thought.
Other South American cats face survival challenges too. Both Jaguars and Margays are threatened. Many of the world’s wildcats have their own preservation societies. For oncillas there is the Central American Oncilla Project.