Salalah – Environment Authority (EA) has captured footage of three adult Arabian leopards walking together in Dhofar for the first time.

An official from the authority stated that the rare sighting of three adult Arabian leopards together was captured by camera traps in the mountains of the governorate. “Monitoring Arabian leopards in their natural habitat has been challenging due to their dwindling numbers, leading the International Union for Conservation of Nature to classify these as critically endangered.”

The sightings are an indication of Oman’s successful efforts to conserve this rare species, while highlighting the active involvement and awareness of the local community, which has been instrumental in the success of these conservation measures. Moreover, it suggests a robust ecological system and biodiversity in Dhofar.

“The team overseeing this project is analysing the data thoroughly to deepen scientific studies and conduct precise field surveys. The aim is to better understand the behaviour of this elusive animal and verify whether the leopards sighted belong to the same family,” the official elaborated.

“EA’s efforts are designed to adapt the Arabian Leopard Project’s management strategy to protect this critically endangered species from extinction.”

The Arabian leopard is legally protected by Ministerial Decree 101/02 and several Royal Decrees, which prohibit its hunting or capture. Under Royal Decree 6/2003, the penalty for hunting or capturing Arabian leopards includes imprisonment for a minimum of six months and maximum five years, and a fine ranging between RO1,000 and RO5,000.

In November 2020, the Office for Conservation of Environment found the first scientific evidence of the Arabian leopard’s presence in two separate locations west of Dhalkut.

There are fewer than 200 Arabian leopards in the wild. Studies conducted in Oman estimate there are between 44 and 58 of these in the sultanate.