The Royal Commission for AlUla and the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute have dedicated a new Arabian leopard habitat in Washington, D.C., Saudi Gazette reported on September 17.
Fewer than 120 Arabian leopards are believed to remain in the wild. The new partnership will bring Saudi and Smithsonian experts together on research, ecosystem restoration, breeding, and long-term species recovery.
After technical assessments and regulatory approvals, a breeding pair is expected to travel from Saudi Arabia’s conservation program to the habitat by 2028.
The project gives visitors a chance to learn about one of the world’s rarest cats while supporting a larger effort to protect its future in the Arabian Peninsula.
