6 July 2026
There is an elusive desert wild cat that is so similar in size and shape to a domestic cat that it could be mistaken for one. The sand cat (Felis margarita) lives in disjoint areas in deserts from North Africa to the Middle East to Turkmenistan and is so well camouflaged that it is almost impossible to see in the wild. They are always in remote desert areas and possibly extinct in some of their range.
Sand cats were not found in Libya, until Mohammed Almuntasir posted this video on YouTube in 2017.
Almuntasir often received inquiries about the video but it led nowhere until Firas Hayder at Sol Plaatje University in South Africa proposed searching for and mapping sand cat locations using GPS, still shots and video.
It was a dangerous effort for humans because of armed smugglers in the region. However, the 8-year collaboration placed the sand cat on the map in Libya. I’ve hand drawn the approximate location in blue.
If you’ve seen a sand cat in a zoo I’m sure you’ve been surprised by how much it looks like the cats at home(*). These are the zoo-bred descendants of sand cats caught in southwestern Pakistan in the early 1970s and exported to zoos worldwide. Sand cats are gone from Pakistan in the current map. It is encouraging to hear they are in Libya.
Read more about the research project and sand cats in Libya at ‘No one believed it’: how a YouTube video accidentally proved Libya’s sand cat really does exist.
(*) Sand cats and domestic cats have a common ancestor.
A great post, Kate. It saddens me to read how many were taken in the 70’s and sent to zoos. They are a beautiful species! Again, you taught me something new! Thanks and Happy Wednesday!