New trail-cam video from Thailand’s Khao Luang National Park shows a rare “fire tiger” in the forest. “Fire tiger” is a nickname for the Asian Golden Cat (Catopuma temminckii), a medium-sized wild cat native to northeastern Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia, and China. Wildlife officials say this sighting is a great sign.
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“Academic officers and patrol officers from the 2nd team (Ai Khiao Waterfall) inspected images from camera traps in Khao Luang National Park and found an amazing image of a ‘Fire Tiger’, a rare and endangered wildlife, walking through a wildlife trap clearly,” wrote Thailand’s Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation on Facebook. “This is a sign that the ecosystem in the area is still complete and suitable for the habitat of rare wildlife.”
[RELATED: Thailand Trail Cam Spots ‘Buffalo Bear’ and More Rare Species]
The department explains that fire tigers are important predators in the forest ecosystem, because they help control the population of small animals and rodents. “The presence of fire tigers in any area is a sign that the forest in that area is complete and the ecosystem is still in good condition,” it says.
See a rare video of a fire tiger here:
Header stock image of Asian golden cat in a zoo in Thailand by Arun Roisri/Getty Images
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