Sharjah’s breeding centre for endangered Arabian wildlife has announced the successful birth of a new Arabian leopard, marking a significant achievement in conservation efforts.
The Environment and Protected Areas Authority (EPAA) described the birth as a milestone in its ongoing mission to protect rare and endangered species, particularly the critically endangered Arabian leopard (Panthera pardus nimr). The announcement coincides with the International Day of the Arabian Leopard, observed on February 10, which raises global awareness of the species’ precarious status on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) Red List.
EPAA Chairperson Hana Saif Al Suwaidi highlighted in a Khaleej Times the authority’s commitment to saving the species, noting that in October 2024, the EPAA hosted a major conservation conference in collaboration with the IUCN SSC Cat Specialist Group. The event gathered experts from the UAE, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and Yemen, alongside international organizations like the Arabian Leopard Fund, to refine long-term conservation strategies extending until 2030.
The Arabian leopard, an emblem of the Arabian Peninsula’s rich biodiversity, continues to face severe threats, including habitat destruction, illegal trade, dwindling prey, and population fragmentation. Conservationists hope that efforts like these will help secure the species’ future in the wild.
