Libya includes a section of Mediterranean coastline, while inland the country includes a large section of the Saharan desert. 7 national parks are found within the country along with 5 reserves. There are a total 24 protected areas, which also includes two wetlands under Ramsar Convention and a number of other areas. Many migrating birds cross the country twice a year. There are 2 wetlands, and while important within the local area, it should be noted that their combined area is well under 1 square mile.

Some of the remaining Mediterranean monk seals are found along this coast – though it is classed as critically endangered in the country. Rock paintings suggest that elephants rhino and giraffes all lived here in the past. Now, very few animals, like the striped hyenas, fennec fox, gazelles, African wildcats and golden wolves live in the area. 

The cheetah is now thought to be extinct from the area, however, while Saharan cheetah (also known as the Northwest African Cheetah) are rare, they do still survive in other parts of the Sahara. If you look at the map to the right, the range of the Northwest African Cheetah (Saharan Cheetah) the southern half of Algeria is all considered Saharan cheetah range. This species has an estimated size of around 250 species, however, in 2020 the population of this subspecies was thought to be just 37. Never-the-less should this map be accurate, and that section of Algeria all host these cheetah, then it seems inevitable that they roam over the border of Libya. Libya has a population of just 6.8 million spread over a country of almost 700,000 square miles (1.7 square km), and whats more – 81% of the population lives in cities within the country. As a result of this, it would be quite conceivable to have 20 cheetah roaming the deserts of the Southwest of Libya, and not seen.

Ecotourism in Libya is not got far, however, with over 1 million tourists in some recent years, there is likely to be significant money available for those who can show people these animals in the wild within Libya. 

Will Libya ever be a well known wildlife destination? I doubt it, but there is much shadow wildlife (so called on this site “in the shadow of mankind”) and I believe that there is a great deal of space for this kind of wildlife tourism in Libya. Giving value to animals like the striped hyena is likely to help them survive in greater numbers  Given the state of wildlife in this country, it is perhaps not surprising that there have not been any articles to mention the country in the past on this website, but if it does, it will appear below. Below that, we will add any links as we make them, for tourists to find wild species in the UK.