International Day of the Arabian Leopard Observed on 10 February 2025.
Important Days
The United Nations (UN) observes the International Day of the Arabian Leopard annually on February 10 to raise awareness about conserving the critically endangered Arabian leopard (Panthera pardus nimr). The 2025 observance marks the second edition of this global event, emphasizing biodiversity and ecosystem resilience.
- The Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) launched Arabian Leopard Day in 2022. In June 2023, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted Resolution 77/295, officially designating February 10 as the International Day of the Arabian Leopard. The first observance under the UN designation took place in 2024.
- The Arabian leopard is the largest wild cat in the Arabian Peninsula but remains one of the smallest leopard subspecies. Males weigh between 30-40 kg, while females range from 25-35 kg. Its pale, buff-colored coat features small, closely spaced rosettes, adapted for arid environments.
Main Point :- (i) The species is found in limited habitats across Saudi Arabia, Oman, Yemen, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Habitat loss, urbanization, overgrazing, poaching, and illegal wildlife trade are major threats to its survival.
(ii) Conservation efforts focus on habitat protection, restoring prey populations, reducing human-leopard conflict, and strengthening law enforcement against poaching. Public education campaigns are crucial in fostering coexistence between humans and leopards.
(iii) The UN aims to restore the Arabian leopard as a flagship species for conservation and sustainability in the region, highlighting its role in maintaining ecological balance.
About Royal Commission for Alula (RCU)
Chairman : HRH Prince Mohammad bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud
Headquarters : Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
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