Paola M. Nogales-Ascarrunz

Paola's most significant accolade is her appointment as a National Geographic Explorer, a honor that recognizes her exceptional contributions to science and storytelling. Her leadership in identifying the Leopardus tilcayo stands as a historic first in modern mammalogy, marking the first new wild cat species described in over a century. This achievement has cemented her reputation as a key figure in the field of conservation biology.