The story of how a simple YouTube video led to a groundbreaking discovery in the world of wildlife is a fascinating one. It's a tale that highlights the power of citizen science and the unexpected ways in which technology can contribute to our understanding of the natural world. In this case, the video, uploaded by Mohammed Almuntasir in 2017, was just 18 seconds long and showed a small feline curled up under a desert shrub in Libya. Almuntasir, a field photographer, had seen sand cats before but had never been able to capture them due to their nocturnal nature. However, this video, titled 'sand cat in Libya', was a crucial piece of evidence that the elusive sand cat, a wild felid typically growing to a maximum of 22.5 inches and 7.5 pounds, was indeed present in his homeland.
What makes this story even more intriguing is the role of Firas Hayder, an expert on North African small carnivores. Hayder was shocked to learn that the sand cat, which had been scattered reported in Libya since the mid-20th century, had never been officially verified as native to the country. The video, which Almuntasir had assumed was already documented, was the first documented evidence of the sand cat in Libya. This led to an eight-year collaboration between Almuntasir and Hayder, resulting in a research paper published in the Journal of Arid Environments in February this year.
The study, which saw seven researchers collaborate, focused on collating documented sightings of sand cats and Saharan striped polecats in Libya. Almuntasir, with the guidance of Hayder, learned how to record GPS coordinates of where the sand cats were sighted and worked closely with local guides to track and observe the animals. The findings were remarkable, with 24 of the study's 36 sand cat observations made by Almuntasir, suggesting that the Libyan Sahara is a potential stronghold for the species.
However, the study also highlighted major knowledge gaps that need to be addressed to ensure the sand cat's survival. The species is currently listed as 'least concern' by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), but researchers have previously pushed for a reconsideration of this assessment, which was made in 2014. Sand cats could be more endangered than previously suspected due to their home range, limited resources, and fragile ecosystem. They are also acutely sensitive to increases in temperature, making them a 'sentinel' for climate change.
The story of the sand cat's rediscovery in Libya is a reminder of the importance of citizen science and the unexpected ways in which technology can contribute to our understanding of the natural world. It also highlights the need for increased awareness and understanding of small carnivores across North Africa, as a lack of public knowledge is fueling human-carnivore conflict. As Hayder says, it is a challenge that he feels he has to change the mentality.
