Prince William Champions Saudi Arabia's Wild Future

Prince William concluded his visit to Saudi Arabia by highlighting the Kingdom's "exciting" conservation initiatives at the Sharaan Nature Reserve. This reserve, located in the historically rich AlUla region, is central to Saudi Arabia's cultural transformation plans. During his visit, Prince William met with rangers and learned about their work protecting wildlife and restoring the natural environment.

The core objective of the Sharaan reserve is the ambitious reintroduction of the critically endangered Arabian Leopard, with a target date of 2035. Rangers shared that the leopard has not been seen in the AlUla area since the 1980s, with only 38 existing individuals currently in captivity within Saudi Arabia. The reserve also focuses on restoring degraded rangelands and preserving native species like gazelles and oryx.

Prince William planted an acacia tree as part of the land restoration program. He expressed enthusiasm for the project's progress, noting its recent inception in 2019 and its potential to inspire other nations. The conservation efforts are supported by partnerships, including one with the Zoological Society of London, aiming to rewild endangered species.