A wildlife photographer's 18-second YouTube video, uploaded in 2017, has led to the first material evidence that the sand cat (Felis margarita) exists in Libya, culminating in a peer-reviewed study published in the Journal of Arid Environments in February 2026. The study documents the sand cat at 13 sites across the Libyan Sahara and the Saharan striped polecat at eight new locations, seven outside its recognized IUCN range.
Accidental Discovery Sparks Scientific Collaboration
Mohammed Almuntasir, a wildlife photographer from Zintan, Libya, captured footage of a small pale cat digging in the sand in remote dunes of south-west Libya. He posted the 18-second clip on YouTube without much thought. "When I posted it, nobody believed it had been filmed in Libya," he said. "Everyone denied it, but I kept insisting that the cat is here, in several places; one of them was only 70km (43 miles) from Zintan, where I live."
The video drew attention from researchers, including Firas Hayder, a zoologist specializing in small carnivores and a postdoctoral researcher at Sol Plaatje University in South Africa. Hayder reviewed all scientific sources mentioning the sand cat in Libya and found no evidence or coordinates. "When I asked Mohammed where he had seen the cat, he told me he had observed it in multiple areas," Hayder says. "That was what surprised me."
Eight-Year Remote Collaboration in a Dangerous Region
After meeting, Hayder and Almuntasir embarked on an eight-year collaboration conducted almost entirely remotely. Hayder taught Almuntasir field research methods from South Africa, including how to record GPS coordinates and document sightings with photos or video. Almuntasir applied these methods across the south-western desert, collecting testimony from local Tuareg communities who know the terrain intimately.
The south-western regions of Libya are active with smuggling networks, making fieldwork dangerous. "On one occasion we came under gunfire during one of our trips, which forced us to leave the area quickly," Almuntasir says. Ecological hotspots in the region have no protected areas, camera trap infrastructure, trained field teams, or central authority to coordinate research.
Key Findings: Sand Cat Stronghold in Wadi Armet
The study documented the sand cat at 13 sites, with a high proportion of sightings (15 out of 36) concentrated in Wadi Armet, an isolated valley roughly 1,000km south-west of Tripoli. "This valley is incredibly vast," Almuntasir says. "More than half of it remains unexplored because of how rugged the terrain is. Animals migrate there in summer because of the water."
The findings suggest the species is more widespread and in better condition in Libya than previously believed, and that the country's south-west may represent a strong refuge for desert-adapted species. The sand cat is one of several mammals considered threatened in Libya, including the cheetah, dama gazelle, and sand gerbil.
Threats and Conservation Needs
Researchers documented cases of sand cats being sold as pets in local markets and accidentally killed by hunters. Sand cats feed primarily on rodents like jerboas, as well as venomous snakes and scorpions, playing an important role in preventing cascading damage to the limited vegetation that sustains desert ecosystems.
"All Libyans should be involved in conservation efforts," says Hayder. "They need to feel a sense of responsibility, that these species represent their environment and represent their country."
Ibrahim Elkahwage, head of the Libyan Wildlife Trust and the Libyan IUCN committee, told the Guardian: "There has always been a large question mark over Libya because of the scarcity of studies and surveys. This research is an important contribution that could help reveal the enormous biodiversity hidden in the Libyan Sahara."
