On a quiet morning, June 19, 2024, among the silent rocks of Al-Ula in Saudi Arabia, three cubs were born to the leopard “Ward” at the Arabian Leopard Breeding Center, part of the Royal Commission for Al-Ula.
Their eyes were still closed, yet their birth carried a clear message: the Arabian leopard is still fighting to survive.
This was not just another captive birth; it was a rare event that drew attention from researchers and media across the region and the world. These three cubs are not merely offspring of a leopard in captivity, they represent a lineage on the brink of extinction, as if nature itself is saying the story is not over yet.
In Green Arabic, we share the story of Ward and her three cubs—a lineage racing against time to survive, and a collective Arab effort striving to reintroduce one of the world’s rarest predators to its natural habitat.
The Arabian Leopard: The Smallest and Rarest of Leopards
The Arabian leopard belongs to the African and Asian leopard family, yet it stands apart with distinct characteristics. It is the smallest among leopard subspecies and is known for its light-colored coat, ranging from golden-yellow along the back to pale yellow or even white across the body. It also has a long tail that helps it maintain balance while navigating the steep, rugged mountains it inhabits.
In the wild, the Arabian leopard typically lives between 8 and 10 years, while in breeding centers it can live up to 20 years, thanks to care and protection from natural and human threats.
Despite these unique traits, the Arabian leopard today faces a critical existential threat to its survival.
From Africa to the Mountains of the Arabian Peninsula
Studies indicate that the ancestors of the Arabian leopard originated in Africa around 500,000 years ago, gradually spreading across vast regions of the Middle East.
Over time, this subspecies established itself across the Arabian Peninsula and Egypt, becoming an integral part of the region’s wildlife and natural history.
The Arabian leopard has long been a symbol of the peninsula’s mountainsى an elusive predator rarely seen, moving silently among rocks and valleys, and sitting at the top of its harsh mountain ecosystem’s food chain.
Yet this silent king of the mountains has been steadily disappearing over recent decades.
How Did the Arabian leopard Reach the Brink of Extinction?
Despite its long historical range, the Arabian leopard has faced severe pressures that have driven its population into sharp decline.
One of the main causes has been poaching, alongside habitat destruction resulting from urban expansion and changing land-use patterns.
Today, only around 200 Arabian leopards are estimated to remain in the wild, distributed across small, isolated populations in Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Yemen. For this reason, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has classified the Arabian leopard as Critically Endangered, a designation reserved for a very limited number of species that are on the brink of extinction.
Arab Efforts to Save the Arabian leopard
Recognizing the Arabian leopard as a symbol of biodiversity across the Arabian Peninsula, several regional initiatives have been launched to protect it.
Saudi Arabia has been at the forefront of these efforts, declaring February 10 as Arabian Leopard Day in 2022 to raise awareness about the importance of its conservation.
In a significant step, the United Nations General Assembly officially adopted this date in June 2023 as the International Arabian Leopard Day.
This global recognition marked a historic milestone, reflecting the importance of ongoing efforts to preserve this rare species.
Current initiatives include the Arabian Leopard Protection Program, the establishment of the Arabian Leopard Breeding Center, and the creation of the Global Fund for Arabian Leopard Conservation in Al-Ula. These efforts aim to support scientific research, strengthen captive breeding programs, and work toward reintroducing leopards into their natural habitats.
Arabian Leopard Conservation Breeding Center
The Arabian Leopard Breeding Center, operated by the Royal Commission for AlUla, is one of the world’s most specialized facilities dedicated to protecting this rare species.
It is the only center fully focused on Arabian leopard breeding programs, aiming to increase population numbers while preserving genetic diversity.
With every new birth at the center, hope grows for rebuilding a stable population that could one day be reintroduced into the wild.
This is where the story of “Ward” begins the mother carrying the future of the Arabian leopard on her shoulders.
Inside the center, Ward became the focus of one of the most remarkable moments of hope in June 2024, when she gave birth to three cubs at once—a very rare event.
This birth was the first of its kind in Saudi Arabia and only the third globally in the past 30 years, marking a significant achievement that reflects major progress in breeding and conservation programs for the species.
Like any mother in the wild, Ward embraced and cared for her three cubs in their earliest days, while experts closely observed these moments as a crucial step in the mission to save the Arabian leopard.
These cubs are not merely offspring of a leopard in a conservation center, they are descendants of a lineage that has roamed this land for thousands of years.
The Future of the Arabian leopard: Will the King of the Mountains Return?
Despite the major challenges the Arabian leopard has faced over past decades, current scientific and conservation efforts are offering the species a renewed chance at life.
Breeding programs, habitat restoration, and increased public awareness are all steps aimed at bringing the Arabian leopard back to the mountains of the Arabian Peninsula.
Within the mountains of Saudi Arabia, the three cubs are growing slowly under expert care. In the years to come, these leopards may once again walk the same mountains their ancestors roamed thousands of years ago.
Only then will we know whether the story of the Arabian leopard has shifted from the brink of extinction… to a story of survival.
