A YouTube video uploaded almost a decade ago has sparked a groundbreaking discovery in Libya's Sahara desert. The footage, shot by wildlife photographer Mohammed Almuntasir in 2017, shows a small pale cat digging in the dunes of south-west Libya. Initially met with scepticism, it has now been confirmed as the first material evidence of sand cats (Felis margarita) in the country.
Researchers believe this initial sighting was not an isolated incident, but rather a sign that south-western Libya could be a stronghold for the species. The sand cat, no bigger than a domestic cat and perfectly camouflaged by its sandy colour, is notoriously difficult to spot, earning it the nickname 'ghost of the desert'. Almost a decade on from Almuntasir's video, there is growing evidence that this region may be home to more sand cats than previously thought.
Almuntasir's discovery was met with interest by Firas Hayder, a zoologist specialising in small carnivores. Despite finding no concrete evidence of sand cat sightings in Libya through scientific sources, Hayder began an eight-year collaboration with Almuntasir to study the species further. Together, they worked with local Tuareg communities and hunters to identify potential sand cat locations.
Their meticulous research culminated in a peer-reviewed study published in February 2026, which documented the sand cat at 13 sites across the Libyan Sahara. The study also identified the Saharan striped polecat at eight new locations, seven of which were outside its recognised IUCN range. A significant concentration of sand cat sightings occurred in Wadi Armet, an isolated valley approximately 1,000km south-west of Tripoli.
The fieldwork presented numerous challenges, including a lack of protected areas and trained field teams. The presence of smuggling networks operating across porous borders made the expeditions physically dangerous, with Almuntasir recounting an instance of coming under gunfire during one trip.