After almost 30 years, the flathead cat is taken into account missing (Prionailurus planiceps) was eventually re-detected in Thailand. This rare species was last recorded in 1995 and has since been classified as “probably extinct”.
This assumption was overturned after camera traps installed on the Princess Sirindhorn Wildlife Sanctuary in southern Thailand captured evidence of the species’ presence throughout 2024 and early 2025.
As a part of an ecological survey launched in 2024, conservation organization Panthera, in cooperation with Thai authorities, recorded a complete of 29 detections, 13 in 2024 and 16 in 2025.
The results were announced on December 26, coinciding with Thailand’s National Wildlife Conservation Day. Although the precise number of people cannot yet be determined, the frequency of detections indicates that this species persists and should occur in relatively large aggregations in the realm.
A rare species living in hard-to-reach habitats
The flat-headed cat is one among the rarest and least studied wild cat species on this planet.
It is small, weighs about two kilograms and is distinguished by a flattened head, close-set, round eyes and partially webbed feet that help it move in a moist environment. These adaptations make the species highly depending on peat bogs, flooded forests and freshwater mangroves.
Unlike most wild cats, the flathead cat hunts in shallow water and feeds mainly on fish, frogs and shrimp. Its nocturnal, elusive nature and preference for extreme terrain mean that individuals rarely encounter it.
Research in peat swamp ecosystems is further complicated by difficult access, chest-deep water, and dense vegetation, which seriously complicates field observations.
Another challenge is the shortage of characteristic markings on the body of this species. Unlike many other wild cats, the flathead cat doesn’t have distinct patterns, making it difficult for researchers to differentiate individuals in camera trap footage.
Despite these limitations, the relatively high variety of detections at Princess Sirindhorn Wildlife Sanctuary suggests that the realm plays a key role as the first habitat for this species in Thailand.
Ongoing threats to nature conservation
One of essentially the most critical findings was footage of a flat-headed she-cat along with her offspring. This evidence is especially encouraging since the flathead cat is understood to have a low reproductive rate and typically gives birth to just one young.
The presence of the cub indicates that the population isn’t only surviving, but continuing to breed within the wild.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) estimates that there are only about 2,500 adult flathead cats left within the wild worldwide. The species is assessed as threatened, and its primary threats include lack of wetland habitat, forest fragmentation, and human pressures akin to hunting and environmental degradation.
In Thailand, peat swamp ecosystems have long been fragmented by land transformation and development, significantly reducing the available habitat for this species.
The study conducted at Princess Sirindhorn Wildlife Sanctuary is an element of the biggest ever conducted on the flathead cat in Thailand and can function a key benchmark for the following IUCN assessment, led by Panthera, in 2026.
Despite the renewed sense of hope, researchers emphasize that these findings are only a preliminary step. Persistent threats, including peat fires, pollution, pet-borne diseases and the potential for illegal wildlife trade, proceed to pose a big risk to the realm.
The rediscovery of the flat-headed cat highlights that long-lost species aren’t necessarily extinct. Thanks to consistent habitat protection and ongoing research efforts, even essentially the most elusive wildlife species still have a probability to survive amid increasing landscape changing pressures in Southeast Asia.
