Status and Conservation of the Leopard on the Arabian Peninsula ...

Foreword
The rapid disappearance <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Arabian <strong>Leopard</strong>, along with so much <strong>of</strong> its main prey, from large areas <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir former
range in <strong>the</strong> Arabian Peninsula represents a major setback for conservation <strong>of</strong> biodiversity in <strong>the</strong> region.
Full details <strong>of</strong> former status <strong>and</strong> abundance are lacking, but it can be supposed that distribution once extended over all
<strong>the</strong> mountainous parts <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Arabian Peninsula. As <strong>the</strong> reports from each range state included here indicate, <strong>the</strong> current
situation is critical. In <strong>the</strong> worst case, only three populations widely scattered across <strong>the</strong> Peninsula now survive. The actual
situation may be slightly more favourable, with o<strong>the</strong>r remnant populations surviving in remote areas, but <strong>the</strong>se must be
small <strong>and</strong> fragmented <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir long-term viability uncertain.
The Arabian leopard formed a major item on <strong>the</strong> agenda <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> first <strong>Conservation</strong> Workshop for <strong>the</strong> Fauna <strong>of</strong> Arabia held
at <strong>the</strong> Breeding Centre for Endangered Arabian Wildlife in Sharjah in 2000 <strong>and</strong> it has continued to feature regularly at <strong>the</strong>
annual meetings held since <strong>the</strong>n.
Over <strong>the</strong> last few years, it has been very encouraging to witness <strong>the</strong> development <strong>of</strong> a successful captive breeding programme
based here in Sharjah <strong>and</strong> with <strong>the</strong> cooperation <strong>of</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r facilities from around <strong>the</strong> region. The <strong>of</strong>fspring produced
by <strong>the</strong> programme serve as a safeguard against <strong>the</strong> total extinction <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Arabian leopard <strong>and</strong> potentially provide stock for
releases at some point in <strong>the</strong> future.
The challenge facing all <strong>of</strong> us now is to translate this success to <strong>the</strong> leopard population in <strong>the</strong> wild. Compilation <strong>of</strong> this
report is an important initial step in this process by bringing toge<strong>the</strong>r all that is currently known <strong>and</strong> highlighting <strong>the</strong> many
important gaps in knowledge that remain to be filled.
The task now is to formulate <strong>and</strong>, crucially, to enact, measures that will enable first <strong>the</strong> survival, <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong>n <strong>the</strong> recovery
<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Arabian leopard. The projected range-wide <strong>Conservation</strong> Strategy <strong>and</strong> Action Plan for <strong>the</strong> Arabian leopard will
achieve <strong>the</strong> first part <strong>of</strong> this task. It will <strong>the</strong>n become <strong>the</strong> responsibility <strong>of</strong> governments to ensure that resources are applied
to realise <strong>the</strong> recommended actions so that <strong>the</strong> nimr can reclaim its place as <strong>the</strong> top predator through <strong>the</strong> mountains <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>
Arabian Peninsula.
Abdulaziz A. al Midfa
Director General
Environment <strong>and</strong> Protected Areas Authority
CAT News Special Issue 1 – Arabian <strong>Leopard</strong> 3