SAN JOSÉ / LA PAZ — A Costa Rica-based documentary team from Botanica Films has made history by becoming the first crew to capture the hunting and predatory behavior of the Tilcayo (Leopardus tilcayo), a newly identified species of wild cat native to Bolivia.
Led by Costa Rican filmmaker Emi Kondo and South African director Thomas Poole, the team filmed the small feline—which is even smaller than a domestic house cat—stalking, capturing, and playing with a wild mouse, one of the primary prey species in its diet.
“I think he opened his doors to us a bit and showed himself in a way that other people hadn’t paid as much attention to before. Somehow, I feel he invited us to be part of that moment,” said Kondo.
The unique access came through a long-standing friendship between Kondo and Bolivian biologist Paola Nogales-Ascarrunz, one of the lead scientists who formally identified and described the new species alongside an international team of researchers.
Reclaiming Indigenous Knowledge and Latin American Science
Beyond its scientific significance, the discovery marks a major milestone for Latin American conservation efforts. The species name, tilcayo, directly honors the ancestral designation used by local indigenous communities in Bolivia.
Historically, wild species across South America were named by naturalists from outside the continent. Kondo highlighted the deep cultural importance of a Bolivian scientist leading the classification:
“The importance of sharing science generated in our countries on a global level is incredible. Tilcayo is a name that local communities already use, reclaiming ancestral knowledge.”
Upcoming Feature Documentary in Production
Building on their exclusive footage and close collaboration with the scientific team, Botanica Films is currently in production on a feature documentary. The project aims to showcase the personal and scientific journeys behind Latin American biodiversity research and wildlife discoveries.
