Muscat – Classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List, the day aims to raise awareness, enhance efforts to protect it, preserve biodiversity and protect wildlife.

Highlighting Oman’s efforts, Dr. Mohammed Muhad Ali Al Maashani from the Environment Authority said: “The efforts made through the Arabian leopard project in the mountains of Dhofar Governorate have resulted in remarkable progress. It has shown encouraging results by monitoring new births of leopards in the wild. This is a positive indicator of the success of efforts to preserve this rare creature in its natural environment.

He explained that these new births indicate the effectiveness of the strategies followed to protect the species, thereby boosting hope for its continued presence in Omani nature. These efforts contribute to maintaining the ecological balance in the region.
He further pointed out that the Arabian leopard, scientifically known as ‘Panthera pardus nimr’, is one of the smallest and rarest species of leopards, and is critically endangered. Studies have shown that the Arabian leopard suffers from the loss of its natural habitat and decrease in prey, in addition to other threats such as illegal trafficking.

He stated that the Sultanate of Oman is one of the places where this species still lives, and the Environment Authority has monitored the presence of the Arabian leopard in several areas in the Dhofar Mountains. The Authority is also continuing its efforts to track the behaviour of the Arabian leopard and collect the biological data necessary to study it, so as to analyse environmental indicators that may help improve its living conditions and enhance ways to protect it.

He explained that the local community has a major role in this approach, as local residents are being made aware of the importance of protecting the Arabian leopard through various activities that aim to highlight how to live in harmony with these threatened wild species.

He stressed that the Sultanate of Oman continues to lead in the field of wildlife protection, and is one of the leading countries in preserving the Arabian leopard. Oman has made great strides in establishing nature reserves and implementing laws that prevent poaching and protect the natural environment of this type of leopard. Modern technologies such as surveillance with trap cameras have also been used, which have shown positive evidence of the presence of the Arabian leopard in its natural environment.