An 18-second video posted in 2017 by Libyan photographer Mohammed Almuntasir, showing a small sand cat digging in remote dunes, has helped confirm that the rare desert-dwelling species survives in southwestern Libya. The footage became the first documented evidence of the species in the country and led to an eight-year collaboration between Almuntasir and zoologist Firas Hayder. Their research, published in the Journal of Arid Environments, identified sand cats at 13 locations across the Libyan Sahara, suggesting the country’s southwest may be an important refuge for the species. Often called the “ghost of the desert,” the sand cat is the only member of the cat family that is adapted to true desert conditions. Researchers say the findings highlight Libya’s largely unexplored biodiversity while underscoring the need for stronger conservation measures to protect threatened wildlife.
The Guardian