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With fewer than 200 Arabian leopards in the wild, Saudi Arabia’s Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) is urging the world to protect and conserve one of the most critically endangered big cats on the planet as it looks to commemorate the inaugural Arabian leopard day on Thursday (10th FEBRUARY).
The goal is to put the focus firmly on the desperate plight of the smallest member of the leopard family and the pressing need to step up conservation efforts to secure its long-term survival.
Some of the most iconic buildings and historic landmarks across the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Oman will be lit up with a range of stunning illuminations inspired by critically endangered big cats. These majestic images will all at the same time be projected on to Riyadh’s King Faisal Foundation building, Jeddah’s King Road Tower, Al Khobar’s Adeer Tower, the Burj Khalifa and Saudi Arabia’s Expo 2020 pavilion in Dubai in addition to the ancient Elephant Rock in AlUla and the highly prominent electronic billboard on Sultan Qaboos University Road in Muscat, Oman.
The RCU is stepping up its commitment after celebrating the birth of a rare female Arabian leopard cub last April as part of its special breeding programme as it transforms most of the vast wildernesses of the AlUla area in north-west Saudi Arabia into nature reserves.
However, there is still some way to go to establish a safe, secure and protected habitat to help restore the population, protecting the natural flora and fauna at the same time.
HRH Princess Reema Bandar Al Saud, the Saudi Ambassador to the USA and founder of the Catmosphere foundation, is among the high-profile individuals backing the campaign. She hopes Arabian leopard day will help to draw the world’s attention to the plight of a species dangerously close to extinction and the conservation efforts needed to establish a safe, secure and protected environment with the requisite ecosystem for it to thrive and benefit the world as a whole.
Known as as An Nimr Al ’Arabi’ in Arabic, the Arabian leopard has long represented beauty, tranquillity, physical strength, fearlessness and freedom, and has held a special place in the imagination for millennia, featuring in ancient rock art, stories and even everyday expressions. It arrived in Arabia almost 500,000 years ago when it emerged out of Africa and despite originally being a mountain animal it became the only true desert leopard as desertification spread over a period of centuries.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) says the species is “critically endangered”, which means it is at an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild, where it is believed to now exist in only three countries: Saudi Arabia, Oman and Yemen.
BROLL:
B-Roll is available free of charge for unrestricted use in global news programming. It includes:
- GVs of the Arabian leopard projected on the ancient Elephant Rock in AlUla, Saudi Arabia
- GVs of the Arabian leopard filmed in Saudi Arabia in September 2021
- Soundbites: Emma Gallacher, Conservation Initiatives Senior Specialist at The Royal Commission for AlUla - https://www.rcu.gov.sa/en/
- Soundbites: Abdulaziz Alenzy, Veterinarian Manager at The Royal Commission for AlUla
Footage can be downloaded from the following link: https://markettierscloud.egnyte.com/fl/0GBNNGhfUW
MORE INFORMATION:
About Arabian Leopard Day
A unique environmental protection and conservation initiative with a global reach and a strong regional focus, Arabian Leopard Day centres the world's attention on the plight of the Arabian Leopard and far-reaching plans to save the species. Held for the first time in 2022, Arabian Leopard Day is fully aligned with the commitment of RCU and Saudi Arabia to safeguard the future of the Arabian Leopard as part of the sustainable development of the wider AlUla region.
About the Arabian Leopard
- The total adult population probably numbers fewer than 200 in the wild. The remnant populations are small, isolated, fragmented and under threat. In Saudi Arabia there are probably fewer than 50 adult Arabian Leopards remaining. Therefore, a need for urgent action to save the species from extinction has been recognised by Saudi Arabia and across the wider region. The leopards’ habitat, which formerly spanned the Arabian Peninsula and reached into the Levant, is now restricted to three countries: Saudi Arabia, Oman and Yemen.
- The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species has assessed the Arabian Leopard as Critically Endangered since 2008. This level of risk is more severe than Vulnerable or Endangered. If the leopards’ population continues to decline, the next stages on the Red List are Extinct in the Wild and, lastly, Extinct.
- For the region’s inhabitants the Arabian Leopard – known in Arabic as An Nimr Al ’Arabi’ – has long represented beauty, tranquillity, physical strength, fearlessness and freedom. The animal has occupied a special place in the imagination for millennia and is found in ancient rock art, stories and even everyday expressions. A common Bedouin expression ‘ana anmar minnak’ means ‘I am more courageous than you are’; literally ‘more of a leopard’. A strong brave man may be called Nimr or Nimran and a clever and courageous woman Nimrah.
- It is not too late to save the Arabian Leopard but RCU cannot do it alone. For this reason we have launched Arabian Leopard Day in February 2022 to complement partnerships already formed across the global conservation network. In September 2021 we announced a three-year cooperation agreement with the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Our other allies include organisations such as Panthera and Catmosphere that concentrate on saving big cats. With Panthera, for example, we collaborate on workshops, studies, and developing strategies to conserve the Arabian Leopard.
- RCU will adhere to a doctrine of best practice conservation science, applying a rigorous standard for the management of species and environment. Our core objectives in Nature and Wildlife are: To create nature reserves to conserve the region’s ecosystems, fragile habitats and biodiversity: To restore and enhance degraded ecosystems, ecological processes through protection, management, research and community engagement, for the benefit of present and future generations: To conserve and reintroduce native species of outstanding universal value.
Weblink:
Saudi Arabia’s Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) – https://www.rcu.gov.sa/en/arabianleopard
About AlUla
Located 1,100km from Riyadh in north-west Saudi Arabia, AlUla is a place of extraordinary natural and human heritage. The vast area, covering 22,561km², includes a lush oasis valley, towering sandstone mountains and ancient cultural heritage sites dating back thousands of years.
The most well-known and recognised site in AlUla is Hegra, Saudi Arabia’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site. A 52-hectare ancient city, Hegra was the principal southern city of the Nabataean Kingdom and is comprised of nearly 100 well-preserved tombs with elaborate facades cut into sandstone outcrops. Current research suggests Hegra was the most southern outpost of the Romans after conquering the Nabataeans in 106 CE.
In addition to Hegra, AlUla is home to a series of fascinating historical and archaeological sites such as: an Old Town surrounded by an ancient oasis; Dadan, the capital of the Dadan and Lihyan Kingdoms, which is considered one of the most developed 1st-millennium BCE cities of the Arabian Peninsula; thousands of ancient rock art sites and inscriptions in Jabal Ikmah; and Hijaz Railway stations.
About the Royal Commission for AlUla
The Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) was established by royal decree in July 2017 to preserve and develop AlUla, a region of outstanding natural and cultural significance in north-west Saudi Arabia. RCU’s long-term plan outlines a responsible, sustainable, and sensitive approach to urban and economic development, that preserves the area’s natural and historic heritage, while establishing AlUla as a desirable location to live, work, and visit. This encompasses a broad range of initiatives across archaeology, tourism, culture, education, and the arts, reflecting a commitment to meeting the economic diversification, local community empowerment, and heritage preservation priorities of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 programme.
About AlUla
Located 1,100km from Riyadh in north-west Saudi Arabia, AlUla is a place of extraordinary natural and human heritage. The vast area, covering 22,561km², includes a lush oasis valley, towering sandstone mountains and ancient cultural heritage sites dating back thousands of years.
The most well-known and recognised site in AlUla is Hegra, Saudi Arabia’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site. A 52-hectare ancient city, Hegra was the principal southern city of the Nabataean Kingdom and is comprised of nearly 100 well-preserved tombs with elaborate facades cut into sandstone outcrops. Current research suggests Hegra was the most southern outpost of the Romans after conquering the Nabataeans in 106 CE.
In addition to Hegra, AlUla is home to a series of fascinating historical and archaeological sites such as: an Old Town surrounded by an ancient oasis; Dadan, the capital of the Dadan and Lihyan Kingdoms, which is considered one of the most developed 1st-millennium BCE cities of the Arabian Peninsula; thousands of ancient rock art sites and inscriptions in Jabal Ikmah; and Hijaz Railway stations.
About the Royal Commission for AlUla
The Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) was established by royal decree in July 2017 to preserve and develop AlUla, a region of outstanding natural and cultural significance in north-west Saudi Arabia. RCU’s long-term plan outlines a responsible, sustainable, and sensitive approach to urban and economic development, that preserves the area’s natural and historic heritage, while establishing AlUla as a desirable location to live, work, and visit. This encompasses a broad range of initiatives across archaeology, tourism, culture, education, and the arts, reflecting a commitment to meeting the economic diversification, local community empowerment, and heritage preservation priorities of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 programme.
ENDS
B-roll and other materials including images will also be made available on Red Robots MediaGRAB:
https://mediagrab.press/presskit/Royal%20Commission%20for%20AlUla
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10 February 2022
