AlUla royal commission marks International Day of the Arabian Leopard with “Leap of Hope” campaign

SPA

AlUla, February 10 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – The Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) is marking the International Day of the Arabian Leopard on February 10 under the theme “Leap of Hope”, highlighting efforts to protect biodiversity and conserve the Arabian leopard, one of the world’s most critically endangered big cats.

The observance builds on an initiative launched by RCU in 2022 in partnership with the Arabian Leopard Fund and Catmosphere. The day gained international recognition in June 2023 when the United Nations General Assembly designated February 10 as the International Day of the Arabian Leopard.

The International Day of the Arabian Leopard draws on conservation work led by RCU with partners including the Arabian Leopard Fund, Catmosphere, the Smithsonian Institution, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The programme is linked to ecosystem restoration across AlUla’s nature reserves, five of which are managed by RCU, and includes vegetation and wildlife protection, ecological balance measures, and preparations for reintroducing the Arabian leopard into its natural habitats.

RCU and its partners are implementing initiatives including environmental data analysis, wildlife monitoring following reintroduction, scientific reporting and long-term conservation strategies aligned with international best practices.

To mark the day, RCU is launching the “Leap of Hope” campaign to raise awareness and engage the local community. Activities include Arabian Leopard Trails in collaboration with AlUla Club, guided ecosystem tours and a dialogue session.

The campaign also extends internationally, with a specialised workshop and awareness event in the United States in partnership with the Smithsonian Institution.

RCU’s Arabian Leopard Conservation Breeding Center is the first facility of its kind in Saudi Arabia to join the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA) and the third in the Middle East, reflecting biodiversity protection efforts aligned with international standards.