Once a landmark predator of the Arabian Peninsula’s wild landscapes, the Arabian leopard now stands among the region’s most threatened species, teetering on the brink of extinction.
Can the Wild Welcome Leopards Again?
Fewer than 50 adults are believed to remain in Saudi Arabia, making their conservation and recovery an urgent national priority.
To confront these threats, the Kingdom has adopted a multifaceted strategy aimed not only at safeguarding the surviving animals but also at restoring the ecological balance essential to their survival.
By restoring habitats and rebuilding the natural prey populations, conservation programs are laying the foundations of an appropriate wild population.
Saudi Arabia Invests in the Leopard’s Future
Turning conservation ambitions into action, the Arabian Leopard Fund has launched its latest call for applications, offering small grants to researchers and initiatives dedicated to protecting the species.
The fund underpins Saudi Arabia’s drive to safeguard biodiversity and restore ecosystems under the Saudi Green Initiative, a key environmental pillar of Vision 2030.
Remarkably, the Kingdom is pursuing the ambitious target of protecting 30 percent of its land and sea by 2030.
Today, Arabian leopard conservation has risen to the forefront of this agenda, backed by $25 million in dedicated funding.
Rebuilding the Ecosystem
According to the Royal Commission for AlUla, fewer than 250 adult Arabian leopards are estimated to remain worldwide, including fewer than 50 in Saudi Arabia.
Addressing such a dramatic decline demands an advanced strategy. That is why the Kingdom is combining habitat restoration with captive breeding and efforts to recover natural prey populations, tackling the ecological pressures that have driven the leopard’s disappearance.
Looking ahead, Saudi Arabia aims not only to safeguard the remaining population but also to create the conditions for future reintroduction into the wild.
Funding the Minds Behind Leopard Conservation
More tellingly, the fund’s grant programs will accelerate these efforts by opening doors for researchers, academic institutions, organizations, specialists, experts, and undergraduate and graduate students to play a pivotal role in protecting the species.
Across a diverse range of disciplines, applicants may submit proposals in areas including scientific research and environmental monitoring, wildlife and natural habitat conservation, veterinary medicine, and ecology.
Eligible projects can receive funding for one year, with financial support of up to about SR19,000 ($5,073) for initiatives and SR94,000 for research projects.
Spanning two application rounds, the fund’s 2026 program offers conservation researchers and practitioners multiple opportunities to advance the Arabian leopard’s recovery.
Applications for the current round will remain open until Oct. 1, after which an independent technical review will evaluate proposals for eligibility, feasibility, and potential impact before announcing the successful projects.
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