New leopards are coming to the National Zoo in Washington, D.C., in fall of 2028 — and they're bringing some diplomatic controversy along with them.⁠ ⁠ The zoo is hosting a groundbreaking ceremony Tuesday for a new exhibit and conservation program focused on the Arabian leopard.⁠ ⁠ The Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute says it will be the only place outside the Arabian Peninsula where the public can see the leopards. With only 120 believed to remain in the wild, they are "among the rarest animals on Earth."⁠ ⁠ The future exhibit is funded by a $51.6 million gift from a Saudi Arabian government agency dedicated to preserving Saudi heritage and culture: the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU). The gift is the largest in the National Zoo's history — and it's tied to the controversial Saudi Crown Prince.⁠ ⁠ Get the full story at the link in bio.⁠ ⁠ #arabianleopards #leopard #animals #nationalzoo #washingtondc