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RIYADH: The Arabian Leopard Fund and Oman鈥檚 Environment Authority on Thursday launched the region鈥檚 first mobile veterinary clinic of its kind to support the conservation of the Arabian leopard in the Omani governorate of Dhofar.
Ibrahim bin Bishan, Saudi ambassador to Oman; Abdullah Al-Amri, president of the Environment Authority of Oman; and Waleed Al-Dayel, vice chairman of the fund鈥檚 board of trustees, 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 stated that the clinic reflects the Kingdom鈥檚 and the fund鈥檚 commitment to harnessing innovation and international cooperation to address environmental challenges on the ground.
He emphasized the importance of empowering human resources as a cornerstone for the sustainability of conservation efforts.
Al-Amri affirmed that the strategic partnership reinforces Oman鈥檚 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鈥檚 continued leadership in wildlife protection through the establishment of nature reserves, enforcement of strict anti-poaching regulations, and use of modern technologies such as trail cameras, which have yielded promising signs of the Arabian leopard鈥檚 presence in its natural habitat.
The Environment Authority continues to monitor the behavior of Arabian leopards and collect vital biological data to support research.