Leap of Hope
When you think of Arabia, for most people, what comes to mind is deserts, extreme weather, oil, palm oil farms, and herds of camels. Do not miss out on the dance forms of Arabia for those who are culturally inclined. There is much more to Arabia than these, and the Arabian Leopard, a symbol of pride for the Arabian Peninsula, is one of them. The reason to think about it is that the number has dwindled so much that they are knocking on the doors to extinction. Observation of international days is an occasion to bring awareness about the issues of concern globally and also to celebrate the achievements. The UN has proclaimed February 10 the “International Day of the Arabian Leopard”. The Arabian Leopard is a critically endangered species native to the Arabian Peninsula. An estimate states that less than 200 Arabian leopards remain in the wild. Oman is at the forefront of Arabian leopard conservation. As is happening to many species, the threats to the survival of the Arabian Leopard remain the same: habitat loss, prey depletion, human persecution, and inadequate awareness and protection. The realisation must be crept into human beings that planet Earth is not only their possession. We must learn to coexist and not exploit, guided by greed. Let the symbol of pride of Arabia, the Arabian Leopard, survive, and the numbers soar, bringing joy to all.
The world’s smallest leopard is clinging to life in the mountains of Oman.
Hadi al Hikmani
We don’t want to punish people. We want to work together to protect this animal.
When you think of Arabia, for most people, what comes to mind is deserts, extreme weather, oil, palm oil farms, and herds of camels. Do not miss out on the dance forms of Arabia for those who are culturally inclined. There is much more to Arabia than these, flora and Fauna and wildlife of Arabia to consider. Big cats are part of it, and the Arabian Leopard is one of them. The reason to think about it is that the number has dwindled so much that they are knocking on the doors to extinction. Yes, we are talking about Panthera pardus nimr (Arabian Leopard).
Observation of international days is an occasion to bring awareness about the issues of concern globally and to celebrate the achievements. The UN has proclaimed February 10 the “International Day of the Arabian Leopard” in 2023, and this year is the first commemoration. The initiatives the Royal Commission for Al-‘Ula took led to the UN adopting the resolution.
The Arabian Leopard is a critically endangered species native to the Arabian Peninsula. An estimate states that less than 200 of them remain in the wild. They carry the unenviable label of being the rarest among the leopard species. The Arabian Leopard once lived across the Arabian Peninsula. Still, today, it is spotted only in Oman and rarely in Yemen, Saudi Arabia and Israel, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Oman is at the forefront of Arabian leopard conservation, with the efforts limited outside of it. “International Arabian Leopard Day” is an occasion to draw the world’s attention to Arabian Leopard. It is not too late to save this majestic species of Big Cat. Arabian Leopards are the smallest leopard subspecies of the leopard family. It calls on worldwide people, organisations, and experts to play their part.
The Arabian Leopard is a symbol of pride for the Arabian Peninsula. Dating back to ~500,000 years ago, the leopard came to Arabia, and its territory once ranged from the Mediterranean to the Arabian Gulf. The Arabian Leopard is one of the most crucial mammal species native to the Arabian Peninsula. Though reportedly shy, they are agile climbers and adept hunters, thriving in rugged and mountainous regions covering over 150 square kilometres.
A sanctuary for the Arabian Leopard is being created by implementing a nature-positive approach to sustainable regeneration. Royal Commission for Al-‘Ula’s goal is to safeguard the future of the Arabian Leopard. It can be realised through reintroducing the species into its native habitat. A captive breeding program is being adopted to build a population which can be reintroduced into the wild. The birth of seven healthy Arabian Leopard cubs in 2023 gives a ray of hope.
As is happening to many species, the threats to the survival of the Arabian Leopard remain the same: habitat loss, prey depletion, human persecution, and inadequate awareness and protection. The realisation must be crept into human beings that planet Earth is not only their possession. We must learn to coexist and not exploit, guided by greed.
Earth provides enough to satisfy every man’s needs but not every man’s greed
Mahatma Gandhi
As Mahatma Gandhi said, Mother Earth has much to give to meet everyone’s requirements, but it is insufficient to cater to greed. The COVID pandemic made it clear that all our well-being is interconnected. Too much focus on human beings will not help. A healthy environment is crucial for healthy human beings. Â Â
Let the symbol of pride of Arabia, the Arabian Leopard, survive, and the numbers soar, bringing joy to all.
Toons: Reema Jaiswal and Shreya
Logs: M. Sai Baba
ToonLogs
