Sand Cat (Felis margarita) Classification

Sand cat is known as a rare species mainly due to the destruction of its habitat. Because of its nocturnal and secretive behavior, dense hair in the soles, and the overall characteristics of its habitat, there is little data about this species, especially in Iran.

In this study, like the general method for nocturnal mammalian species, spotlight surveying was used to estimate density and abundance of this species. During the study, 660 km strip transects in Samsoor and 615 km in the habitats located in Chahe-Hashem were traversed randomly. Data analysis was performed using Distance 6.2 which resulted that the density and abundance of sand cat in Samsoor area is 0.163 and 45 (CI: 29-72) respectively. Considering the recorded number of individuals and the length of the traversed transects, it can be inferred that the encounter rate with the species is equal with 0.04 individuals per km.

To investigate the effect of the moon status, we planned study design and covered all lunar nights. The results revealed that the highest rate of encounter rate with the species occurred at the initial and final phases of the lunar nights while encounter rate with the species was at the lowest level in two middle weeks of the lunar months (0.052 and 0.02 individuals per km respectively).

The increased agricultural activities, grazing livestock including camels and goats, and accompanying dogs are some of the main threatening factors. As a solution, we suggest establishing environmental force guard stations in the region and also employing some local people as wildlife protection guards.

Ghafaripour, S.; Naderi, M.; Rezaei, H.R.
Investigating abundance, density and potential threats of Sand cat in the South-Eastern parts of Iran
2017  Journal of Wildlife and Biodiversity (1): 47-55

We provide confirmed sightings of the elusive Arabian sand cat (Felis margarita harrisoni) using trail camera traps in Baynouna Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

A total of 46 photographs were obtained using five camera traps, during 278 trap nights, between March and December 2015. A total of three individuals were recorded of which one was confirmed as a male. About 80 % of the sightings were between 00:00 and 06:00 h, and 39 % were recorded during the full moon phase.

These are the first confirmed sightings of the presence of Arabian sand cat in the Western Region of Abu Dhabi Emirate after an unconfirmed sighting reported in 2005.

Ahmed, S.; Al Zaabi, R.; Soorae, P.; Shah, J.N.; Al Hammadi, E.; Pusey, R.; Al Dhaheri, S.
Rediscovering the Arabian sand cat (Felis margarita harrisoni) after a gap of 10 years using camera traps in the Western Region of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
2016  European Journal of Wildlife Research (62): 627-631

We report on the North African subspecies of the sand cat Felis margarita margarita and other desert carnivores in the Moroccan Sahara.

The study was initiated in December 2015 under the approval of the Haut Commissariat aux Eaux et Forêts et à la Lutte Contre la Désertification, and during 12 days of fieldwork, six carnivore species were observed: two felids (including the sand cat), three canids and one mustelid. The four sand cats seen, two males and two females, were captured, anaesthetized and fitted with GPS or VHF collars. We collected new morphological data, then followed two of them regularly, one less frequently, for several days and nights including observation of hunting sequences.

High quality photographs of the sand cats were taken and preliminary results on home-ranges and behaviour are presented here.

Breton, G.; Sliwa, A.; Azizi, S.; Essalhi, A.
Sand cats in the Moroccan Sahara - preliminary results of a new study
2016  Cat News (63): 7-10