In the early hours of September 25, after a tiring expedition, Gregory Breton, the head of Panthera France, and his companion were on the verge of calling it a day when they suddenly came across a remarkable sight that took them by surprise.
Suddenly, three pairs of shining eyes appeared from the shadows. The team quickly aimed their spot lamps towards them, revealing a delightful surprise – three adorable sand cat kittens nestled in the bushes. This unexpected encounter marked a rare and unforgettable moment, capturing what could be the first-ever footage of young sand cats in their natural habitat.
During Gregory Breton’s last expedition in the Moroccan Sahara with the Sand Cat Sahara Team, they were on a mission to capture the elusive sand cats on film. These creatures are experts at hiding and are rarely sighted in the wild.
While Alexander Sliwa was scanning the bushes with spot lamps from the top of their vehicle, something caught his eye in the distance. Just as they were getting ready to call it a day, he noticed six glowing dots staring back at him from a distance of about four kilometers (2.5 miles) from their base camp.
Gregory Breton, part of the Sand Cat Sahara Team, successfully spotted three adorable sand cat kittens with their unique features such as large ears and broader faces, thanks to their well-equipped gear. Locating these elusive creatures is no easy feat, as they are experts at staying hidden and silent both during the day and night. Their coat color blends perfectly with their surroundings, making them expert camouflagers in their native environment.
According to Gregory Breton from the Sand Cat Sahara Team, the researchers approximated that the kittens were between six to eight weeks old. Gregory stated, “We think this is the initial instance where researchers have ever observed wild sand cat kittens in their African habitat.”
Check out this awesome video of sand cat kittens discovered in their natural habitat by Gregory Breton and his team from the Sand Cat Sahara Team. After gathering valuable data and footage, the team packed up their gear cautiously to not disturb the kittens. They were thrilled to spot an adult sand cat nearby, possibly the mother of the kittens. The team is enthusiastic about their findings and are eager to conduct more research on these fascinating creatures, as there is still much to learn about sand cats due to the lack of thorough studies on them.
According to Gregory Breton from the Sand Cat Sahara Team, they have come across 29 unique sand cats, tagged 13 of them, and gathered some intriguing information. One surprising discovery was that these felines are roaming more extensively than previously believed, surpassing the movement patterns of other small cats. However, the reason behind this behavior is still a mystery. To stay updated on their sand cat escapades, feel free to share the story with your pals and follow their journey on Facebook, both on their page and Panthera France’s.