How a YouTube video accidentally proved Libya's sand cat does exist

Mohammed Almuntasir's 18-second YouTube video, uploaded in 2017, showed a small, pale cat digging a hollow in the sand in south-west Libya, which was later confirmed to be a sand cat (Felis margarita). Despite initial skepticism, the footage drew attention from researchers, including Firas Hayder, a postdoctoral researcher at Sol Plaatje University in South Africa. Hayder and Almuntasir collaborated on a study to document the sand cat's presence in Libya, with Almuntasir collecting data from local Tuareg communities and following paw prints to locate burrows.

The research, published in the Journal of Arid Environments in February 2026, documented the sand cat at 13 sites across the Libyan Sahara, with a high concentration of sightings in Wadi Armet, an isolated valley roughly 1,000km south-west of Tripoli. This region's unique rock formations, vegetation, and water sources make it a potential refuge for desert-adapted species. The findings suggest that the sand cat is more widespread and in better condition in Libya than previously believed.

The study's results have significant implications for conservation efforts in Libya, where the sand cat is considered threatened. The researchers also documented cases of sand cats being sold as pets in local markets and accidentally killed by hunters. As Ibrahim Elkahwage, head of the Libyan Wildlife Trust, noted, the research could help reveal the enormous biodiversity hidden in the Libyan Sahara. The collaboration between Almuntasir and Hayder demonstrates the importance of local knowledge and international cooperation in conservation research.