A historic perspective 1: The diet of the Arabian Leopard (Panthera pardus nimr) in Israel

The Arabian leopard (Panthera pardus nimr), among the world's most critically endangered big cats, survives in isolated and highly threatened populations across the arid Middle East. Between 1986 and 1990, we investigated the feeding ecology and behavior of five radio-collared Arabian leopards in the Judean Desert, Israel, then one of the species' last strongholds in the region. Using telemetry, direct observation, and analysis of 266 scats and 169 prey remains, we found that wild mammals - particularly Nubian ibex (Capra nubiana), Rock hyrax (Procavia capensis), and Indian porcupine (Hystrix indica) - comprised the bulk (75.8%) of their diet, with domestic animals (24.2%) reflecting occasional foraging near human settlements. Prey choice varied seasonally and geographically, and the presence of anthropogenic materials (plastic, cloth, aluminum) in scats highlights the growing pressures of human encroachment. Observed interactions with other carnivores (striped hyenas, Hyena hyena, foxes Vulpes vulpes), intra-specific kleptoparasitism, and the exclusion of cubs from male-dominated kills underscore the species' complex behavioral ecology. These findings underscore the Arabian leopard's reliance on intact wild prey populations and minimally disturbed habitats - conditions increasingly rare across its range. The urgency of immediate conservation efforts is apparent, as we must focus on preserving core wilderness areas, mitigating human-wildlife conflict, and preventing further habitat fragmentation if this apex predator is to survive in the region.