SLIDE 1: Title Page/ARABIAN LEOPARD SLIDE 2: ARABIAN LEOPARD The Arabian leopard (Panthera pardus nimr) is a leopard subspecies

s native to the Arabian Peninsula and classified as critically endangered by IUCN since 1996. IUCN stands for International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources is an international organization dedicated to finding "pragmatic solutions to our most pressing environment and development challenges." The organization publishes the IUCN Red List, compiling information from a network of conservation organizations to rate which species are most endangered. The Arabian leopard is the smallest leopard subspecies. SLIDE 3: DESCRIPTION Apart from its substantially smaller size, this subspecies can be distinguished from its African and Asian counterparts by its paler overall colour. The more typical deep golden-yellow color only exists along the animals back, while the rest of the body fades to beige or greyish-white. The body is almost entirely interspersed with widely-spaced black rosettes and spots characteristic of the species, which help to camouflage the cat in the bare, rocky terrain in which it lives. The long tail is used for balance when climbing or reclining in trees. Males weigh about 30 kg (66 lb) and females around 20 kg (44 lb). SLIDE 4: DISTRIBUTION AND HABITAT It once existed in Haqel in the northern part of the Median Mountains, and in Hijaz and the Sarawat Mountains. It also existed in the northern Yemen highlands, in the mountains of Ras al-Khaimah, in the eastern region of the United Arab Emirates, and in the Jabal Samhan and Dhofar mountains in Oman. There was a very small population in Israel's Negev desert, estimated at 20 in the late 1970s. A few individuals survive in the Judean Desert and Negev Highlands while in the Arabian Peninsula leopards are known from just one location in Yemen and one in Oman. The largest confirmed subpopulation inhabits the Dhofar Mountains of southern Oman. In the arid terrain of their habitat, Arabian leopards require large territories in order to find enough food and water to survive. SLIDE 5: ECOLOGY AND BEHAVIOR Despite males and females sharing a range, they are solitary animals, only coming together to mate, which is very vocal and lasts for approximately five days. After a gestation period of around 100 days, a litter of one to four cubs is born in a sheltered area, such as a small cave or under a rock overhang. During the first few weeks the female frequently moves her cubs to different hiding places to reduce their risk of being discovered. Young open their eyes after about nine to ten days and begin to explore their immediate surroundings, they will not venture from the security of the den until at least four weeks old. SLIDE 6: THREATS Some reports indicate that the leopard population has decreased drastically in Arabia due to killing by shepherds and villagers after leopard raids on their livestock making them an enemy of farmers.