Arabian leopard returns to Dhofar and AlUla as part of rewilding efforts

The critically endangered Arabian leopard (Panthera pardus nimr) has returned to the Nejd plateau in Dhofar, Oman, marking a significant milestone in conservation efforts, according to a study published on World Arabian Leopard Day (10 February).

📣 This International Arabian Leopard Day @Hadihikmani & Al Hikmani reveal new records of the Arabian leopard in the Nejd region of Oman, extending the species’ range 40km northwards and confirming it is not only resident but also breeding in the area 🐆🐾 https://t.co/soGc11l7T8 pic.twitter.com/tBEY6FPxxj

— Oryx (@OryxTheJournal) February 10, 2025

Once widespread across the Arabian Peninsula, the species has lost over 98 per cent of its historic range due to habitat destruction, prey scarcity and illegal poaching. The global wild population is estimated at just 100-120 individuals, with the largest known subpopulation in Oman’s Dhofar Governorate.

Previously thought extinct in the Nejd, camera trap surveys from 2014-2021 recorded 18 detections of at least eight individual leopards and a cub, confirming a resident and breeding population. “This finding extends the Arabian leopard’s known range in Oman by 40 km northwards,” the study’s authors, Hadi and Khalid Al Hikmani, noted.

READ: Saudi Arabia leads celebrations for the first International Day for the Arabian Leopard

A legacy worth saving. 🐆

With approximately 200 left worldwide, the Arabian leopard is fighting for survival. Saudi Arabia is leading the global charge with conservation, breeding programs, and habitat restoration to secure its future.

Watch to learn more about this big cat… pic.twitter.com/9gy8qYa677

— Saudi Green Initiative (@Gi_Saudi) February 10, 2025

Conservation efforts are also accelerating in Saudi Arabia. The Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) is spearheading a major breeding initiative, doubling its captive leopard population to 32 since 2021. “From the birth of Hope in 2021 to seven cubs in 2023 and triplets in 2024, each step has been a leap of hope,” RCU spokesperson Abdulrahman AlTrairi was quoted by Arab News as saying. AlUla is set to establish a new Arabian Leopard Rewilding Centre in Sharaan National Park to support rewilding.

Saudi Arabia, which declared 10 February as Arabian Leopard Day in 2022, marked this year’s event with a conservation summit at London Zoo. Meanwhile, the King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) has developed the species’ first genome, aiding genetic studies for survival strategies.

Recognising the urgency of protecting this apex predator, Oman and Saudi Arabia continue to lead global conservation efforts to ensure the Arabian leopard’s survival in the wild.

READ: 3 rare Arabian Leopards spotted in Oman’s Dhofar