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Dubai, United Arab Emirates (CNN) – If you are lucky enough to spot a sand cat in the deserts of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, it is natural to be concerned as it seems like a weak creature without strength.
But don’t let its cute appearance fool you, because it may have adaptability skills that help it in its environment.
The sand cat inhabits sandy areas. Photo credit: @m_a_alshawi
According to the Kingdom’s National Center for Wildlife Development on the “X” platform (formerly Twitter), this animal, which lives in sandy areas, is characterized by its “high ability” to adapt to the lack of water and food.
Photographer Muhammad Al-Shawi discovered this animal by chance in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia a few years ago. Photo credit: @m_a_alshawi
In addition, it is believed to be the only cat species that can withstand hot desert environments, according to the Saudi Green Initiative’s official report on the “X” platform. She is also an expert night hunter who loves isolation and stealth, and her feet leave almost no trace, so she rarely sees what can be seen in nature.
This animal is characterized by its high adaptability to lack of water and food. Photo credit: FRANCK FIFE/Contributor
Saudi photographer Muhammad Al-Shawi, who comes from the Buraidah region, was able to document this solitude-loving creature in the kingdom about seven years ago.
Al-Shawi said in an interview with CNN Arabic: “The sand cat is a shy animal that people rarely see, and it is very cautious. His appearance before me was a coincidence.”
It rarely occurs in nature. Photo credit: @m_a_alshawi
The cat only stayed in front of the photographer for two minutes before returning to its dark hole.
The Saudi photographer recognized that the cat’s beauty is one of its interesting aspects and that its body is characterized by a yellow-gray color with broad lines on the limbs, according to the National Center for Wildlife Development.
This cat feeds on rodents, reptiles and birds. Photo credit: HASSAN AMMAR / Stringer
The photographer emphasized: “I hope to recognize the importance of the presence of these creatures in our environment and preserve them so that the desert environment remains healthy.”
The sand cat, a nocturnal animal, feeds on rodents and reptiles, and its main enemy in nature is humans, followed by eagles, owls, hyenas and birds, according to the National Center for Wildlife Development.
According to the Abu Dhabi Environment Agency, the sand cat lives in sandy desert areas in Africa, Central Asia and the Arabian Peninsula. Photo credit: @m_a_alshawi
Al-Shawi is interested in documenting natural monuments and wild animals since his journey with photography began about 25 years ago with old cameras that required developing photos.
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