Rare Footage Reveals Libya’s Secret Sand Cats

A remarkable wildlife discovery in the Libyan Sahara has revealed that one of the world’s most elusive wild cats may be far more widespread than previously believed. New research suggests that south-western Libya could be an important refuge for the sand cat (Felis margarita), highlighting the urgent need for greater wildlife conservation across the country’s remote desert landscapes.

When wildlife photographer Mohammed Almuntasir uploaded footage to YouTube in 2017, he had no idea it would transform scientific understanding of the sand cat in Libya.

The 18-second clip showed a small, pale-coloured sand cat digging a hollow in the desert sand, providing the first confirmed visual evidence that the species existed in the country.

“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 sand cat is the world’s only wild cat fully adapted to true desert environments. Roughly the size of a domestic cat, its sandy-coloured fur provides exceptional camouflage, earning it the nickname “ghost of the desert.”

Scientists Investigate an Unrecognised Wildlife Stronghold

Nearly a decade after the original footage was captured, researchers now believe that south-western Libya may represent a previously unrecognised stronghold for the species.

The video attracted the attention of Firas Hayder, a zoologist specialising in small carnivores and postdoctoral researcher at Sol Plaatje University in South Africa.

“He convinced me that we should collaborate on a study to document the return of this animal to Libya and register it among Libyan wildlife species,” Almuntasir says.

Hayder discovered that despite occasional historical references to sand cats in Libya, there was no scientific evidence confirming their presence.

“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.”

Researching Wildlife in One of North Africa’s Least Studied Regions

South-western Libya remains one of North Africa’s least researched terrestrial environments, presenting significant challenges for conservation scientists.

The region lacks protected areas, camera trap networks, trained field researchers and a central authority to coordinate biodiversity surveys. In addition, smuggling routes that cross the borders with Algeria, Niger and Chad make fieldwork dangerous.

“The south-western regions of Libya are active with smuggling networks, so they are not safe,” Almuntasir says. “On one occasion we came under gunfire during one of our trips, which forced us to leave the area quickly.”

Despite these risks, Hayder and Almuntasir worked together over eight years, with much of the collaboration taking place remotely.

“I taught Mohammed the field research methods from South Africa – how to record GPS coordinates, how to document each sighting with photographs or video,” Hayder says. “He applied all of that across the south-western desert, collecting testimony from local Tuareg communities who know the terrain intimately.”

Tracking the Ghost of the Desert

Growing up in Libya’s Nafusa Mountains gave Almuntasir valuable local knowledge of the vast Hamada al Hamra plateau, an 84,000 sq km rocky desert in the country’s south-west.

Instead of carrying a rifle like local hunters, he carried a camera, documenting wildlife and recording the locations where sand cats had been spotted.

“They would tell me about places where they had seen the sand cat and record the coordinates, and I would compile them all to plan a dedicated trip to visit each location,” he says.

Sometimes, Almuntasir and his guides spent days following paw prints before locating a burrow, camping nearby until the elusive animal emerged.

Study Confirms Important Habitat for Sand Cats

Their years of work resulted in a peer-reviewed study  Journal of Arid Environments in February 2026.

Researchers documented sand cats at 13 locations across the Libyan Sahara, alongside eight new records of the Saharan striped polecat, seven of which lay outside the species’ recognised IUCN range.

One particularly significant area was Wadi Armet, an isolated valley approximately 1,000 kilometres south-west of Tripoli, where 15 of the 36 recorded sand cat sightings occurred.

“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. Many of them come from the Tassili n’Ajjer reserve on the other side of the Algerian border.”

The findings indicate that Libya’s south-west may provide a crucial refuge for desert-adapted wildlife. Other mammals considered threatened in Libya include the cheetah, dama gazelle and sand gerbil.

Conservation Challenges Remain

Although the discovery offers hope for the future of sand cats in Libya, researchers also documented ongoing threats.

Some sand cats were found being sold in local markets as pets, while others had been accidentally killed by hunters.

The species performs an important ecological role by feeding on rodents, venomous snakes and scorpions, helping maintain the fragile balance of desert ecosystems and protecting the sparse vegetation on which many other species depend.

Ibrahim Elkahwage, head of the Libyan Wildlife Trust and the Libyan IUCN committee, believes the findings represent an important milestone.

“There has always been a large question mark over Libya because of the scarcity of studies and surveys,” he tells the Guardian. “This research is an important contribution that could help reveal the enormous biodiversity hidden in the Libyan Sahara.”

Protecting Desert Wildlife

At Natural World Fund, we recognise that protecting wildlife depends on understanding where species live and the challenges they face. Discoveries such as the hidden sand cat population in Libya demonstrate how scientific research, local knowledge and international collaboration can reveal previously overlooked biodiversity. By supporting conservation initiatives, habitat protection and wildlife monitoring, we can help ensure that rare desert species continue to survive in some of the world’s most challenging environments.

Hayder believes conservation will ultimately depend on public engagement.

“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.”

Protecting Wildlife for Future Generations

At Natural World Fund, we recognise that conserving wildlife depends on protecting habitats, supporting scientific research and empowering local communities to safeguard the species that share their landscapes. Discoveries such as the sand cat population in Libya demonstrate how much there is still to learn about the world’s most remote ecosystems. By supporting conservation initiatives, biodiversity research and habitat protection, we can help ensure that rare desert wildlife continues to survive and thrive for future generations.

If you care about restoring native wildlife, support the work of Natural World Fund today.