Two Saudi Leopards Find a New Home at Washington DC's National Zoo

Two endangered Arabian leopards will be sent to Washington, DC, as part of a conservation agreement between the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Saudi Arabia’s Royal Commission for AlUla.

The arrival of the leopards will mark the first time the species is exhibited in the US, with plans underway to build a dedicated habitat at the National Zoo. The animals are expected to travel to Washington before the end of 2028. Officials say fewer than 120 Arabian leopards remain in the wild, mostly in fragmented areas of Oman and Yemen.

The species, once widespread across the Arabian Peninsula, has faced severe population loss due to poaching and habitat destruction. US President Trump and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman reportedly expressed interest in the initiative during their bilateral meetings, which focused primarily on trade and security.

The exchange between the US and Saudi Arabia has drawn comparisons to China’s panda diplomacy in the 1970s, when two pandas were sent to the US following President Nixon’s visit. This move places the Arabian leopard, a symbol of Saudi conservation efforts. at the center of a diplomatic gesture.