The National Center for Wildlife (NCW) has welcomed the birth of four cheetah cubs, marking a major stride in the Kingdom’s wildlife conservation efforts!
This exciting news comes on the heels of the launch of the National Cheetah Conservation Strategy, a significant initiative spearheaded by Eng. Abdulrahman AlFadley, Minister of Environment, Water, and Agriculture, and Chairman of the NCW Board.
Dr. Mohammed Qurban, CEO of the NCW, shared the excitement, stating, “The arrival of these cheetah cubs, coinciding with the debut of our National Cheetah Conservation Strategy, is a landmark moment in our conservation journey.” The strategy is designed to create a sustainable future for wild cheetahs within their natural habitats across Saudi Arabia.
This marks the return of cheetahs to the Arabian Peninsula in over 40 years!
![Saudi Arabia Celebrates Birth Of First Cheetah Cubs In 40 Years](https://cdn.lovin.co/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2024/07/26173556/723603_0-1.jpeg)
This achievement is particularly noteworthy as it heralds the return of cheetahs to the Arabian Peninsula for the first time in over forty years. Dr. Qurban also pointed out a fascinating discovery of ancient cheetah mummies in northern Saudi Arabia, reinforcing the region’s historical connection with these incredible animals. The new strategy, crafted with international best practices, aims to reintroduce cheetahs through successful captive breeding, strategic habitat selection, and active community involvement.
The strategy kicks off with breeding cheetahs and protecting their habitats
![Saudi Arabia Celebrates Birth Of First Cheetah Cubs In 40 Years](https://cdn.lovin.co/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2024/07/26173700/a69IWpRwWCxwD0wKWmm99ZmZf3VnZNbvjq9iYhSe.jpg)
This will be followed by testing the release of cheetahs into the wild and gradually expanding these efforts. Since cheetah conservation is tough worldwide, this plan is essential. Recent finds of cheetah mummies, ranging from 4,000 to 120 years old, and ongoing genetic studies show Saudi Arabia’s strong dedication to boosting biodiversity and wildlife protection.