Status of Arabian Leopards in the Wild and in Captivity

The Arabian leopard is one of the most highly endangered large cats in the World.  Based on a wild population that is believed to be (well) fewer than 250, Arabian leopards are listed in the IUCN Red Data List as “CR C2a(I)” (“Critically Endangered with extinction in the wild”) and in Appendix I of CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora). Wild Arabian leopards are apparently more common than wild Amur leopards (Panthera pardus orientalis) which may number as few as 20.  However, as there are only about 60 captive Arabian leopards and probably more than 500 Amur leopards in captivity, the former is in much more imminent danger of extinction.

(Map adapted from The Leopard in the Arabian Peninsula - Distribution and Subspecies Status James A. Spalton and Hadi M. Al-Hikmani, Pg. 6, Cat News Special Issue No. 1, 2006 (ISSN 1027 - 2992)

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