This is the first time in the world. Nobody has done that so far,” said Breton. The Sand Kittens were filmed by a team of researchers during an expedition in the Moroccan Sahara.
The video was posted on Youtube on September 18 by the team, who said that it is “the first video of this species to be captured in nature.”
The Sand Cat Sahara Team, a group researching the species in the south of Morocco, captured three Sand Kittens hidden between bushes and inspecting the camera.
Between 6 to 8 weeks old, the kittens belong to the species Felis margarita, the only cat living in true deserts.
Grégory Breton, the general manager of Panthera France, an NGO that works for the conservation of felines, explained to Moroccan news outlet Yabiladi that the animal is not very well known. “Few researchers have conducted studies on this species until now,” he said.
The Sand Cat Sahara Team has been conducting research on Morocco’s Sand Cats since 2013 under the patronage of the High Commission and other organizations.
To study the species effectively, the team observed 29 different specimens, capturing 13 cats and installing transmitter collars on their necks to gather information about their life habits.
“I want to point out that these are not dangerous for the animal. The collars will emit a small signal, which allows us to follow them. This is the first time in the world. Nobody has done that so far,” said Breton.
The video of the sand kittens is part of ongoing research, in which the team produces documentaries on local carnivorous species, including the sand cat, the fennec (Vulpes zerda), Fox Rüppel (Vulpes rueppell), the African wolves (Canis anthus), the striped wild cat (Ictonyx lybica ), and the African wild cat (Felis silvestris lybica).
Source
The video was posted on Youtube on September 18 by the team, who said that it is “the first video of this species to be captured in nature.”
The Sand Cat Sahara Team, a group researching the species in the south of Morocco, captured three Sand Kittens hidden between bushes and inspecting the camera.
Between 6 to 8 weeks old, the kittens belong to the species Felis margarita, the only cat living in true deserts.
Grégory Breton, the general manager of Panthera France, an NGO that works for the conservation of felines, explained to Moroccan news outlet Yabiladi that the animal is not very well known. “Few researchers have conducted studies on this species until now,” he said.
The Sand Cat Sahara Team has been conducting research on Morocco’s Sand Cats since 2013 under the patronage of the High Commission and other organizations.
To study the species effectively, the team observed 29 different specimens, capturing 13 cats and installing transmitter collars on their necks to gather information about their life habits.
“I want to point out that these are not dangerous for the animal. The collars will emit a small signal, which allows us to follow them. This is the first time in the world. Nobody has done that so far,” said Breton.
The video of the sand kittens is part of ongoing research, in which the team produces documentaries on local carnivorous species, including the sand cat, the fennec (Vulpes zerda), Fox Rüppel (Vulpes rueppell), the African wolves (Canis anthus), the striped wild cat (Ictonyx lybica ), and the African wild cat (Felis silvestris lybica).
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VIDEO
I was thrilled to see these pictures of the Sand Cat kittens as I have written a chapter in my novel (To Live Again by Ailene Blair Stanley) featuring a Saharan Sand Cat. I went to Bristol Zoo to see their one long time Sand Cat as I am unlikely to come across them in the wild. This video and study may bring them to the attention of more interested people. Their beauty and ability to survive in the desert is unsurpassed in the feline world.
Oh they're all so cute!
What a cute creatures