The Arabian leopard, a feline that Saudi Arabia wants to save

5 nature reserves an a breeding center to save the feline

Encroachment into their habitat, plus a decline in prey animals, has resulted in its numbers diminishing. This is why the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU), a commission established in 2017 to preserve and develop the archaeological and historical site of AlUla in Saudi Arabia, works on the reintroduction of Arabian leopards in the region.

The RCU has created five nature reserves covering 12,500km2 in AlUla, as well as an Arabian leopard Breeding Centre in Taif. The latter welcomed a new Arabian Leopard cub, born on April 23, 2021. It is hoped that one day, cubs from that center will roam freely in AlUla’s mountains and nature reserves.

The Arabian Leopard, the book

Want to learn more about the Arabian leopard? Get The Arabian Leopard, a book created by luxury publishing house Maison Assouline.

Written by conservationist Andrew Spalton, the book details the plight of the Arabian leopard and the Royal Commission for AlUlaU’s work to protect and reintroduce the species in AlUla. Andrew Splaton expertly details the history of the feline and its evolution and journey from Africa to Arabia, and its impact on civilisations in AlUla and beyond.