Status and Conservation of the Leopard on the ... - Nwrc.gov.sa

Fig. 7. Arabian leopard Rashid from <strong>the</strong> National Wildlife Research Centre (NWRC) in
Ta’if, Saudi Arabia on breeding loan in <strong>the</strong> Breeding Centre for Endangered Arabian
Wildlife, Sharjah, UAE (Photo J. Edmonds).
scat analysis <strong>of</strong> hairs for prey identification,
to collect <strong>and</strong> freeze semen for
genetic management <strong>of</strong> captive animals
<strong>and</strong> conservation <strong>of</strong> genetic diversity,
<strong>and</strong> to improve knowledge <strong>of</strong> reproduction,
physiology, pathology, behaviour
in captivity (Su<strong>the</strong>rl<strong>and</strong> 1998, Joubert
2001).
Political support
Numerous efforts should be made at <strong>the</strong>
political level to reinforce legislation,
to create mechanisms <strong>of</strong> policy implementation
<strong>and</strong> fund raising. All national
institutions involved in l<strong>and</strong> management
or whose activities affect leopard
conservation, have to be approached,
cooperative actions reinforced <strong>and</strong> information
exchange increased. <strong>Leopard</strong>
conservation in Saudi Arabia also requires
<strong>the</strong> support <strong>of</strong> international institutions
or NGOs to intercede with local
communities.
Public awareness
Public awareness programs have to be
initiated <strong>and</strong> developed in “leopard areas”,
to involve local people in a clearly
defined strategy. Brochures mentioning
<strong>the</strong> high conservation pr<strong>of</strong>ile <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Arabian
leopard, its CITES position, hunting
laws in force <strong>and</strong> penalties, could
be distributed in schools, police stations,
<strong>and</strong> shops. Development <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> captive
breeding programme could be used to
make <strong>the</strong> Saudi public aware <strong>of</strong> leopard
conservation, <strong>and</strong> to collect funds.
Management plan & long term conservation
strategy
A management plan should include
benefits for local communities with replacement
<strong>of</strong> activities that disrupt ecological
processes by o<strong>the</strong>rs that preserve
habitats or restore <strong>the</strong>m. Trade-<strong>of</strong>f between
social, economic <strong>and</strong> ecological
interests is necessary. Protected Area
management should involve local people
by creating a consultative committee
<strong>of</strong> local representatives for bottom-up
regulation in harmony with top-down
ones. The socio-economic importance
<strong>of</strong> biodiversity has to be assessed to define
a national programme <strong>of</strong> sustainable
rural development (Child 2003). This
should include maintenance <strong>of</strong> ecological
productivity, a principle underlying
all sustainable management plans. Efficiency
<strong>of</strong> implemented measures has to
be controlled (adaptive management).
Animals in captivity
Seven leopards have been acquired by
<strong>the</strong> NWRC during <strong>the</strong> last 7 years (Table
1). Four are currently kept in NWRC,
<strong>and</strong> three have been loaned to BCEAW
in Sharjah (Fig. 7).
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