Three critically endangered Arabian leopard (Panthera pardus nimr) cubs or triplets have been born in Saudi Arabia, in what conservationists have described as a ‘milestone’ for the beleaguered smallest leopard subspecies in the world.
The birth of the triplets — two males and a female — was announced by The Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU), a Saudi commission established to protect and safeguard AlUla, a region of outstanding natural and cultural significance in North-West Saudi Arabia.
“The triplets were born at RCU’s Arabian Leopard Conservation Breeding Centre this summer. The first time three cubs have been born together in captivity in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the youngsters are being closely observed by the centre’s expert team who are recording their behaviour and interactions,” a statement on big cat organisation Panthera’s website noted.
The cubs are also believed to be only the third litter of Arabian leopard triplets born in captivity in roughly the past 30 years.
RCU’s centre has welcomed seven births last year and five so far this year, as per the statement. There are now 32 leopards at the centre — more than double the original 14 when RCU took over the project in 2020.
The Arabian Leopard population has been classified by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as critically endangered since 1996, with roughly 100 estimated to remain in the wild.
Stephen Browne, vice president of Wildlife and Natural Heritage, RCU said: “The Arabian leopard is a powerful symbol of our vision to conserve AlUla’s natural environment through a conservation programme that is restoring nature's balance. RCU is committed to preparing leopards born at the centre for release into the wild, ensuring they have minimum human contact and are fully equipped for reintroduction. These efforts will ultimately lead to Arabian leopards once again roaming free in AlUla’s protected nature reserves.”