AlUla Marks International Arabian Leopard Day 2025 with Conservation Milestones and Global Awareness Initiatives
AlUla, February 10, 2025 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – The Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) has officially marked the 2025 edition of International Arabian Leopard Day, reinforcing its commitment to protecting the critically endangered Arabian Leopard and raising global awareness of conservation efforts.
Observed annually on February 10, International Arabian Leopard Day highlights the RCU’s collaboration with global conservation partners, including the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), to ensure the survival of one of the world’s most vulnerable big cats.
A Year of Conservation Milestones
This year’s theme, "Leaps of Hope", celebrates the progress made at RCU’s Arabian Leopard Conservation Breeding Centre, which welcomed a rare set of triplet cubs in 2024, following previous successful births, including the first cub, "Hope", in 2021 and seven more cubs in 2023.
To commemorate these achievements, RCU launched a public campaign inviting people to participate in naming the three newly born leopard cubs. The initiative aims to foster global engagement by allowing participants to learn about the cubs' unique traits and vote on their names, further strengthening awareness of the species' importance.
Community and Youth Engagement Initiatives
As part of the International Arabian Leopard Day 2025 celebrations, RCU organized a series of community-driven initiatives, including:
Arabian Leopard Day Walk – A community event aimed at raising awareness and mobilizing support for the conservation of the species.
Inter-school Football Tournament – The opening match of AlUla’s school league, designed to encourage youth participation in sports while integrating environmental education.
"Arabian Leopard Story" School Workshops – Launched by the Arabian Leopard Fund, this educational program teaches children and young people about the Arabian leopard’s ecological significance, its habitat, and conservation challenges. The workshop is being rolled out in Saudi Arabia, Oman, and the UAE as part of a broader regional awareness campaign.
Strategic Partnership with the Zoological Society of London
In a major step toward global conservation collaboration, RCU announced a strategic partnership with the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) during a special event at London Zoo. The event, attended by Princess Reema bint Bandar Al Saud, founder of Catmosphere, along with RCU Chief Tourism Officer Philip Jones and ZSL senior representatives, focused on regenerative tourism and wildlife conservation strategies.
The RCU-ZSL partnership aims to enhance knowledge exchange, develop conservation strategies, and monitor reintroduced species to ensure a stable ecosystem in AlUla and beyond.
A Future of Conservation and Regeneration
The Arabian Leopard remains a symbol of AlUla’s rich natural heritage, and RCU’s conservation efforts are part of a broader commitment to sustainability, biodiversity, and regenerative tourism in line with Saudi Vision 2030.
Through ongoing breeding programs, habitat protection initiatives, and global collaborations, RCU continues to lead the way in safeguarding the future of the Arabian Leopard, ensuring that future generations can witness the majestic species thriving once again in the wild.