Saudi Gazette report

ALULA — The Arabian Leopard Fund, in partnership with the Royal Commission for AlUla, launched the Arabian Leopard Scholarship Program, which falls within the tracks of the AlUla Scholarship Program. The program launch event was held at the new headquarters of the Arabian Leopard Fund in Riyadh.

The program aims to create a knowledgeable generation of Saudis of AlUla, which contributes to achieving the Fund’s mission to secure a better future for the Arabian leopards and thus achieve the natural balance. The program offers educational opportunities for 50 Saudi men and women, picked from a highly competitive batch of 300 applicants from AlUla in fields related to conservation.

The program covers 50 study missions to qualify the next generation of environmental conservationists of AlUla with the practical skills and knowledge they need to protect the future of the Arabian leopard, which is a critically endangered species. The launch of the scholarship program comes after the celebration of the first International Arabian Leopard Day, which was officially observed on February 10 after its recognition by the United Nations.

The program is the first of its kind and complements the Fund’s efforts in long-term investment in building the capabilities of future leaders and experts in environmental conservation, throughout the region. The Fund’s efforts in building human cadres included concluding a five-year partnership with the British Durrell Conservation Academy, where the Fund provides full funding for trainees in the Durrell Endangered Species Management Graduate Certificate (DESMAN) program, in addition to another partnership with the Royal Commission for AlUla to develop a specialized training program in the skills of caring for Arabian leopards and managing captive reproduction.

The launch of the scholarship program complements the launch of the Arab Leopard Scholarship to fund research and initiatives for individuals and organizations, which aims to support existing efforts to protect the Arabian leopard, preserve its habitats, and reduce its extinction. It aims to grant the Arabian leopard to various institutions, stakeholders, and experts. The grant includes a number of fields, including zoology, environmental protection, nature conservation, veterinary medicine, biology, economics, and sociology.

It is noteworthy that the Royal Commission for AlUla established the Arabian Leopard Fund, pursuant to a royal decree and initial funding of $25 million, to support efforts to conserve the Arabian leopard regionally and globally, after noting the sharp decline in the number of Arabian leopards, which the International Union for Conservation of Nature classified as “critically endangered.”

The Kingdom’s interest in the Arabian leopard confirms its firm commitment to protecting biodiversity and preserving the natural environment, in line with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030, as the Fund, through its programs and initiatives, plays a pivotal role in mobilizing global efforts to reduce the extinction of big cats and restore environmental balance in the region.

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