RIYADH: The Saudi-led Catmosphere basis celebrated its annual occasion, Catwalk, on Saturday, with a worldwide name for participation.
Saudi embassies worldwide responded by collaborating within the initiative for a 7 km walk, that includes a number of partaking actions alongside the route.
The Catwalk initiative is an annual celebration in honor of the declaration final yr by the UN designating Feb. 10 because the International Day of the Arabian Leopard.
Through numerous social actions, Catmosphere, a non-profit based by Princess Reema bint Bandar, works to forestall the Arabian leopard from turning into extinct, educates individuals in regards to the animal, and connects folks with their surroundings.
“I was elated that the UN recognized the International Day of the Arabian Leopard last year — an initiative by the Kingdom, supported by over 30 member states,” stated Princess Reema, who additionally serves as Saudi ambassador to the US.
“This announcement is critical because it marks the primary time the UN has designated a world day of recognition for a mammal, huge cat or subspecies.
“And it is the first time that an international day established by the UN was led by Saudi Arabia. I am particularly proud that this day is for conservation.”
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The designation emerged from the collaborative efforts of Catmosphere, the Royal Commission for AlUla, the Arabian Leopard Fund, and the Saudi Mission to the UN.
In Riyadh, a Catwalk occasion was organized with a walk at Bujairi in historic Diriyah, the place folks from numerous backgrounds, together with households and youngsters, participated in numerous actions to lift consciousness in regards to the significance of efforts to guard wild cats dealing with the specter of extinction.
The Saudi Foreign Ministry additionally participated, with Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Waleed Elkhereiji tweeting: “Pleased to participate in the #Catwalk2024 initiative in conjunction with the UN adoption of Feb. 10 as International Day of Arabian Leopard, in assurance of the Kingdom’s efforts the preserve the seven big cats to protect wildlife.”
The seven huge cats embrace jaguars, lions, snow leopards and pumas.
The Saudi Embassy in Egypt organized the Catwalk, with Osama Nugali, Saudi ambassador to Egypt, and several other officers from the embassy and the Egyptian Ministry of Youth and Sports collaborating in a march.
“The Kingdom’s celebration of the International Day of the Arabian Leopard serves its lofty goals aimed at introducing the values of environmental conservation and instilling the principles of protecting the Arabian leopard from extinction and its return to its natural environment,” Nugali instructed Arab News.
“The Kingdom translated this interest by submitting a draft resolution to the UN General Assembly that was adopted in June 2023,” he added.
“The embassy was honored to organize a march on the occasion in which the embassy employees and members of the Saudi community in Egypt participated enthusiastically, in addition to our Egyptian brothers, of all age groups without exception.”
The embassy additionally organized numerous actions for kids.
The Saudi Embassy in Ireland participated within the Catwalk, with Deputy Ambassador Abdulsalam Al-Mushaiti and the performing head of the cultural attache workplace, Dr. Abdulaziz bin Fahd Al-Fuhaid, becoming a member of the walk together with their kids and workers.
The walk began from the well-known Samuel Beckett Bridge within the Irish capital, Al-Mushaiti wrote on X.
The Saudi Embassy in Italy shared photos of Catwalk 2024 on X with the caption: “Highlights of the first-ever celebration of the #InternationalArabianLeopardDay in Rome @catmospherenow.”
The Saudi Embassy in New Delhi additionally took half, writing on X: “On this occasion, the embassy organized #Catwalk2024, an initiative launched by @catmospherenow to raise awareness about efforts to preserve the Arabian leopard.”
The Saudi Embassy in Switzerland additionally joined the occasion, writing on X: “It’s time for the catwalk! The embassy in Bern participates in #Catwalk2024, walking 7 km to raise awareness about the importance of efforts to protect 7 species of wild cats facing the threat of extinction. We walk to protect the Arabian leopard.”
The RCU marked the event with a brand new “Leap of Hope” marketing campaign, aiming to boost international consciousness and encourage motion for the conservation of critically endangered huge cat species.
The Catwalk initiative acquired help from numerous authorities entities, together with the ministries of inside; municipal, rural affairs and housing; overseas affairs; surroundings, water and agriculture; training; and sport.
