Arabian Leopard Fund, Oman Launch Mobile Clinic to Protect Critically Endangered Cat

The Arabian Leopard Fund and Oman’s Environment Authority on Thursday launched the region’s first mobile veterinary clinic of its kind to support the conservation of the Arabian leopard in the Omani governorate of Dhofar.

 Saudi Ambassador to Oman Ibrahim bin Bishan, President of Environment authority of Oman Abdullah Al Amri, and vice chairman of the fund’s board of trustees Waleed Aldayel attended the event.

 The project provides emergency veterinary care to Arabian leopards in their natural habitat, especially in the rugged mountain regions of Dhofar, one of the last remaining strongholds of this critically endangered species in the Arabian Peninsula.

 The mobile clinic is equipped with state-of-the-art medical tools to function as a fully integrated unit capable of rapid field response. It is supported by a specialized veterinary team and will also deliver training programs to build the capacity of local personnel in Dhofar in wildlife management techniques.

 The Saudi ambassador emphasized that the clinic reflects the Kingdom’s and the fund’s commitment to harnessing innovation and international cooperation to address environmental challenges on the ground. He highlighted human resources empowerment as a cornerstone for the sustainability of conservation efforts.

 President of Environment Authority of Oman affirmed that the strategic partnership reinforces Oman’s decades-long efforts to conserve the Arabian leopard and its integrated ecosystem. He noted that the clinic represents a significant addition to field capabilities and underscores a collaborative approach to preserving this environmental and cultural heritage.

 Al Amri also highlighted Oman’s continued leadership in wildlife protection through the establishment of nature reserves, enforcement of strict anti-poaching regulations, and the use of modern technologies such as trail cameras that have yielded promising signs of the Arabian leopard’s presence in its natural habitat.

 The Environment Authority continues to monitor the behavior of Arabian leopards and collect vital biological data to support research. The authority also engages community in conservation efforts, raising public awareness about the importance of coexistence with the critically endangered species and reducing harmful human activity in its habitat.

 The clinic is part of joint efforts to strengthen conservation of the Arabian leopard, which is listed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as critically endangered, with estimates indicating that fewer than 120 individuals remain in the wild. The collaboration also includes conducting joint research studies, developing capacity-building programs, and launching awareness-raising initiatives targeting the local community and schools, thus underscoring the importance of preserving ecological balance and fostering community participation in conservation.