Sand Cats Zoo Habitat
Large ears radiate heat.
Sand cats zoo habitat. Sand cats are kept in many zoos and collections mainly in the USA Europe and the Middle East. This animals sand colored coat is hard to see against dry bushes and sand and acts as protection for it. Dense hair on the pads of their feet protect against hot sands and the cold of the desert.
These tiny 3-11 pound cats live in sandy and stony deserts and are the only true desert cat species. Fearless hunters they can prey on venomous snakes. Theyre also a rare sight to see which is why the NC.
Covered with hair its footpads are insulated from the hot sand. In the wild the sand cats can be found in the stony and sandy desert in North Africa and Southwest Asia. The cats large ears help to provide it with excellent hearing.
The kitten small enough to fit into a teacup was born to mother. Habitat degradation is the major threat to the sand cat. Because they need to burrow to escape the heat.
Sand cats can sometimes go months without drinking. The International Union for Conservation of Nature considers sand cats to be near threatened. An Arabian Sand Cat One Plan Conservation Workshop was organised by Al Ain Zoo on 13-14th November 2013.
Sand Cats will also cover large kills with sand and return later to feed. However these features are part of their adaptation for life in the deserts where their ears are used to detect prey and thick pads enable them to walk across the hot sand. It is well suited to the desert with their short thick.