‘No one believed it’: how a YouTube video accidentally proved Libya’s sand cat really does exist

A YouTube video uploaded in 2017 by wildlife photographer Mohammed Almuntasir provided the first material evidence confirming the existence of the sand cat (Felis margarita) in Libya. The 18-second clip, captured in the remote sand dunes of south-west Libya, showed the small, pale feline digging a hollow in the sand. Scientists began contacting Almuntasir after viewing the footage, which proved the presence of the world's only felid species specifically adapted to true desert conditions within the country. Prior to this video, the sand cat's presence in Libya was largely unconfirmed, with many researchers doubting its existence there. The discovery highlights the unexpected ways in which citizen science and readily available digital platforms can contribute to scientific understanding and conservation efforts.