Mount Everest Home to a Wild Cat Detected for the First Time
Researchers from the Wildlife Conservation Society in the Bronx have confirmed, for the first time, the presence of a wild cat on Mount Everest, the planet’s highest peak. The discovery adds a surprising twist to the Mountain’s well-documented wildlife story and broadens our understanding of how alpine ecosystems support unusual predators at extreme elevations. The finding was reported in the scientific outlet Cat News, signaling a milestone in high-altitude mammal research.
The breakthrough emerged from work conducted during the 2019 National Geographic and Rolex Perpetual Planet Everest Expedition, widely noted as the largest scientific mission ever mounted on Everest. This expedition brought together a diverse team of scientists, climbers, and field researchers with the goal of studying the mountain’s environment, climate, and living creatures in ways that could inform conservation strategies for the future. The rare feline sighting, recorded during these efforts, adds a new layer to the expedition’s legacy.
To verify the cat’s presence, scholars collected fecal samples from two high-altitude sites, located at approximately 5,110 and 5,190 meters above sea level. DNA analysis from these samples confirmed the presence of at least two Pallas’s cats. This species has a known range that overlaps with that of the red fox, suggesting overlapping ecological niches in this extreme landscape. The genetic evidence provided a compelling, noninvasive confirmation of the cats’ occupation of these lofty habitats, which until now had been primarily inferred from indirect observations and anecdotal reports.
Additional genetic material found in the stool samples, including DNA traces from pikas and ferrets, offered insights into the daily diet and ecological interactions of the Pallas’s cats on Everest. These prey items are important food sources for the species, helping to explain how Pallas’s cats manage to survive in such a sparse and challenging environment. Sagarmatha National Park, the protected area where these samples were gathered, is recognized as a World Heritage Site, underscoring the global importance of preserving the region’s fragile alpine ecosystems.
Looking ahead, researchers plan to refine population estimates and distribution maps for Pallas’s cats on Everest. Their approach will include deploying camera traps at additional sites and expanding the collection of fecal samples to build a more robust picture of how many individuals occupy this high-altitude corridor, how they move across the landscape, and how often they interact with potential predators and competitors. These efforts aim to illuminate the species’ conservation status and guide measures to protect both the cats and the broader alpine community that depends on a delicate balance of prey, habitat, and climate conditions. The ongoing work is closely watched by scientists, park managers, and conservationists who seek to safeguard Everest’s unique biodiversity for future generations. [citation needed]