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Ul-Islam, M.Z.; Al Qahtani, H.; Aldosari, M.
Arabian sand cats in ïUruq bani Ma'arid reserve, Empty Quarter of Saudi Arabia
2018 Cat News (67): 6-7
The sand cat _Felis margarita_ is an elusive species, with limited information on its distribution, habitat use and ecology in the wild. In Saudi Arabia the species is recorded in various areas but there is little information from the southern Empty Quarter. Camera trapping studies were carried out in the large Empty Quarter in the protected area 'Uruq Bani Ma'arid between 2015 and 2017. Seventeen infrared Bushnell camera traps were installed at various locations in Uruq. Twenty pictures of sand cats were taken at 11 out of 17 camera trap stations. There was no obvious geographical pattern, but further studies may illuminate drivers of sand cat distribution. The species is vulnerable to indiscriminate trapping and poisoning of predators. We propose to conduct systematic surveys in more areas throughout Saudi Arabia to study the conservation status of this ecologically important species.
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