Arabian Leopard Conservation: Leap Of Hope At AlUla

The Royal Commission for AlUla is marking the International Day of the Arabian Leopard on 10 February under the theme "Leap of Hope," using the occasion to highlight global concern over one of the world’s most critically endangered big cats and to reaffirm ongoing work to protect biodiversity and wildlife.

The observance, held every year on 10 February, gained formal international status in June 2023 when the United Nations General Assembly designated it as the International Day of the Arabian Leopard, placing the species firmly on the global environmental calendar and drawing wider attention to its fragile conservation status.

The day reflects a broad conservation effort led by the Royal Commission for AlUla in cooperation with the Arabian Leopard Fund, Catmosphere, the Smithsonian Institution, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature, with these partnerships aimed at protecting ecosystems, restoring habitats, and planning for the eventual return of Arabian leopards to the wild.

International Day of the Arabian Leopard builds on a programme that the Royal Commission for AlUla launched in 2022 with the Arabian Leopard Fund and Catmosphere, and this initiative has developed into an international platform that highlights the species’ ecological importance while supporting long-term strategies for safeguarding wildlife across AlUla and beyond.

The Arabian leopard has become a central symbol of the Royal Commission for AlUla’s mission to renew natural systems inside AlUla’s nature reserves, five of which are managed directly by the commission, where work includes protecting vegetation, conserving wildlife, maintaining ecological balance, and preparing suitable landscapes for the species’ future reintroduction.

RCU and partner organisations run technical programmes that include environmental data analysis, scientific monitoring of animals released into protected areas, preparation of research reports, and the design of long-term conservation plans that align with recognised international standards, helping ensure the species’ survival prospects are based on evidence and best practice.

As part of the "Leap of Hope" campaign linked to International Day of the Arabian Leopard, community activities in AlUla include Arabian Leopard Trails with AlUla Club, guided tours that explain local ecosystems, and a public dialogue session, while international outreach features a specialist workshop and awareness event in the United States with the Smithsonian Institution.

The Royal Commission for AlUla’s Arabian Leopard Conservation Breeding Center, which is the first facility of its type in Saudi Arabia to join the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria and the third such member in the Middle East, underscores the Kingdom’s stated commitment to biodiversity protection and to sustained action for Arabian leopard conservation throughout the year.

With inputs from SPA