International Day of the Arabian Leopard
Designated by the UN in 2023 to raise awareness of the endangered Arabian leopard, one of the world's rarest big cat subspecies native to the Arabian Peninsula.
Date10 February
TopicEnvironment & Sustainability
Established2023
Ways to observe this day
- Teach your kids about the Arabian leopard and why it's endangered
- Follow conservation initiatives protecting the Arabian leopard in regional nature reserves
- Support organizations working to protect wildlife in the Arabian Peninsula
- Share awareness content about endangered species native to the Arab world
In June 2023, the UN General Assembly unanimously adopted a resolution designating February 10 as the International Day of the Arabian Leopard, responding to an initiative launched by Saudi Arabia's Royal Commission for AlUla in 2022. The day was first marked at UN headquarters in 2024.
The Arabian leopard is a rare subspecies inhabiting the mountainous, rocky terrain of the Arabian Peninsula. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) classifies it as “Critically Endangered,” with estimates suggesting fewer than 200 individuals remain in the wild, due to habitat loss, poaching, and declining prey populations.
The day aims to highlight the leopard's role as an apex predator essential to ecological balance, and to rally international support for conservation and captive-breeding programs, such as those run in reserves across Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Yemen. It is marked with awareness campaigns and media initiatives spotlighting efforts to save this iconic animal before it disappears entirely.
