A Scottish conservation charity will use its DNA expertise to help efforts to save the Arabian sand cat in the United Arab Emirates.

(UAE).

It has only been definitely sighted there four times in the past 18 years.

The WildGenes conservation genetic laboratory was established at the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) based at Edinburgh Zoo three years ago. It provides DNA analysis services to zoos worldwide, as well as undertaking collaborative research projects on topics of national and international conservation interest. Now it is to assist Al Ain Zoo, in Abu Dhabi, to launch a flagship conservation breeding and research programme for the sand cat.

The sand cat lives deep in the deserts of Arabia, North Africa and Central Asia and can survive for months without water. Thick fur protects its paws from the baking ground and it makes burrows in the sand to cope with the extremes of midday and night-time temperatures. It is the only species of cat to inhabit true desert. However degradation of the desert environment has led to the decline in many species including the sand cat.

It is classified as endangered in the regional Red List of the International Union for Conservation of Nature for the UAE.

Due to the elusive nature of this species and the extreme environments it inhabits, it is very hard to estimate exactly how many cats are left in the wild and to what extent they are declining, according to experts.

Dr Helen Senn, research scientist at the RZSS WildGenes Laborator, said: "This is an important step in conserving the Arabian sand cat. Desert environments tend to be overlooked in terms of conservation work and many species are extinct or on the brink of extinction.

"Although the sand cat is classed as near threatened as a whole, the threat to local populations can be much greater. It is hoped that the establishment of this captive breeding programme and the information gathered from this study will help to improve the conservation prospects of this species."