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Foreword
The rapid disappearance of the Arabian Leopard, along with so much of
its main prey, from large areas of their former range in the Arabian Peninsula
represents a major setback for conservation of biodiversity in the region.
Full details of former status and abundance are lacking, but it can be
supposed that distribution once extended over all the mountainous parts of the
Arabian Peninsula. As the reports from each range state included here indicate,
the current situation is critical. In the worst case, only three populations
widely scattered across the Peninsula now survive. The actual situation may be
slightly more favourable, with other remnant populations surviving in remote
areas, but these must be small and fragmented and their long-term viability
uncertain.
The Arabian leopard formed a major item on the agenda of the first
Conservation Workshop for the Fauna of Arabia held at the Breeding Centre for
Endangered Arabian Wildlife in Sharjah in 2000 and it has continued to feature
regularly at the annual meetings held since then.
Over the last few years, it has been very encouraging to witness the
development of a successful captive breeding programme based here in Sharjah
and with the cooperation of other facilities from around the region. The
offspring produced by the programme serve as a safeguard against the total
extinction of the Arabian leopard and potentially provide stock for releases at
some point in the future.
The challenge facing all of us now is to translate this success to the
leopard population in the wild. Compilation of this report is an important
initial step in this process by bringing together all that is currently known
and highlighting the many important gaps in knowledge that remain to be filled.
The task now is to formulate and, crucially,
to enact, measures that will enable fi rst the survival, and then the recovery of
the Arabian leopard. The projected range-wide Conservation Strategy and Action
Plan for the Arabian leopard will achieve the fi rst part of this task. It will
then become the responsibility of governments to ensure that resources are
applied to realise the recommended actions so that the nimr can reclaim its
place as the top predator through the mountains of the Arabian Peninsula.
His Highness Dr.
Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed al Qassimi
Ruler of Sharjah
and Member of the Supreme Council
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