IUCN / SSC Cat Specialist Group - Digital Cat Library |
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| Judas, J.; Paillat, P.; Khoja, A.; Boug, A. | |
| Status of the Arabian leopard in Saudi Arabia | |
| 2006 Cat News (Special Issue 1): 11-19 | |
The historic range of the Arabian Leopard presumably extended over a large part of Saudi Arabia. Analysis of the scarce historic and recent records suggests that the range has decreased by 90 % since the beginning of the 19th century, with an annual rate of range loss close to 10 % in the last 15 years. During the period 1998-2003, 19 reports were recorded, of which only 4 can be confirmed, distributed in 2 main areas. 1) the escarpment of the Asir Mountains between Al Baha and Abbah (600-2400 m), where high prey density may still be found near permanent water flows, and 2) the drier Hijaz Mountains north of Madinah (< 2000 m), where potential prey density is low. Considering home range sizes and densities calculated for other leopard populations in different ecological contexts, the potential population was estimated at 60-425 individuals in a range of 4000-19,635 km2. Population viability analysis projected a mean time for first extinction of 11.3 years from 1998. The decline is mainly attributed to habitat fragmentation and degradation and direct persecution. The increase in over-grazing, and encroachment into once remote areas by road construction since the 1970s have induced important biodiversity loss affecting the whole food chain. Prey availability has decreased throughout leopard range, which has presumably led the leopard to alter its diet towards livestock and other domestic animals. This increases the unpopularity of the species, and persecution by local people. The leopard is officially protected in Saudi Arabia; however, despite the high proportion of land protection (4.1 % of the country), there is an obvious lack of protected areas that encompass the leopard's remaining range. Recommendations stress the need for extensive surveys to update current status and distribution of the Leopard, and to develop _ex situ _and _in situ _conservation programs. |
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