Biology graduate student records rare African golden cat

College of Science graduate student Mary Zarilla has documented the first recorded occurrence of the African golden cat (Profelis aurata) in the Toro-Semliki Wildlife Reserve—marking the first sighting of the species in northwestern Uganda.

Zarilla captured a daytime image of the endangered cat using a camera trap she deployed in the park in July 2025. The African golden cat is often described as the least known wild cat in Africa, with few studies conducted on the elusive species. Zarilla is co-advised by Dr. Anne Axel and Dr. Kimberly Dingess in the Department of Biological Sciences.

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