Sand cats discovered in Qatar via systematic camera trap study

Wildlife ecologist Muhammad Ali Nawaz and his team have documented a potentially sizable population of sand cats (Felis margarita) in Qatar. Using camera traps between 2022 and 2025, the researchers captured more than 100 images of the elusive felids within the Al-Ureiq Reserve, a protected area covering approximately 55 square kilometers.

While the sand cat is found across North Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, and parts of Asia, systematic records in Qatar were previously non-existent, relying only on anecdotal reports. The findings, recently published in Frontiers in Conservation Science, provide concrete evidence of the species' distribution and habitat preferences in the region. Although the IUCN currently classifies the sand cat as a low-risk species due to its wide range, some scientists advocate for upgrading its status to near-threatened due to a lack of comprehensive data.