The United Nations General Assembly has proclaimed 10 February as the International Day of the Arabian Leopard in resolution 77/295. This observance was celebrated for the first time at UN Headquarters in New York in 2024.
The Arabian leopard (Panthera pardus nimr) is a critically endangered leopard subspecies that inhabits the Arabian Peninsula. Threats to the species include urbanization, farming, overgrazing by livestock, poaching, and the illegal wildlife trade.
Observing this International Day will promote much-needed attention for the Arabian leopard and galvanize public engagement in conservation initiatives aimed at restoring leopard populations and other endangered species for the benefit of ecosystems.
Conservation efforts focus on habitat protection, restoration of natural prey populations, and public education programs to reduce human-leopard conflict. The Arabian leopard is legally protected across its range, but greater enforcement of laws and active management of surviving populations are needed to ensure the species' survival.
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