For the first time in 30 years, a rare flat-headed cat has been spotted in Thailand: a female with a kitten was found.

According to ТСН: For the first time since the early 1990s, the existence of the flat-headed cat — one of the rarest predators in Southeast Asia — has been confirmed in Thailand. The animal was captured by camera traps in the Princess Sirindhorn Wildlife Sanctuary in 2024–2025.

The conservation organization Panthera announced this event on Thailand's Wildlife Protection Day. Researchers documented not only adult individuals but also a female with a kitten, indicating successful breeding of flat-headed cats in the southern part of the country.

History of observations of the flat-headed cat

The flat-headed cat (Prionailurus planiceps) was previously known only from a few sightings in Brunei, Malaysia, and Indonesia. In Thailand, the species was considered practically extinct, as there had been no confirmed evidence of its presence since 1995. This small predator weighs about 2 kg, has webbed paws, and is adapted to life in swampy forests and wetlands.

Threats to flat-headed cats

According to the assessment by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in 2014, flat-headed cats are threatened with extinction. The main threats include habitat destruction, degradation of wetlands, overfishing, and other negative consequences of human activities.

Panthera noted that the current field studies have become the most extensive in the history of studying this species. Updated information on the population of flat-headed cats is planned to be published in early 2026.

Significance of the discovery

Thailand's Minister of Natural Resources, Suchart Chomklin, emphasized that the return of the flat-headed cat is the result of many years of work to preserve natural ecosystems. The head of the Department of National Parks, Attapol Charoenchansa, added that this discovery is significant not only for Thailand but also for Southeast Asia as a whole.

This important discovery signifies successes in biodiversity conservation in the region and may encourage new efforts to protect rare species. Despite all the threats, the flat-headed cat has a chance for recovery thanks to the efforts of conservationists and ongoing research into their habitat. Observation of this species may become an important step toward improving conservation efforts in Southeast Asia.