Make way, pandas, there's a new emissary coming to town: The Saudi royals are bankrolling a $51.6 million habitat for the Arabian Leopard in the largest donation ever to the National Zoo.

Why it matters: Native to the Arabian peninsula, a pair of the sleek, sand-colored mountain cats — only about 120 remain in the wild — will be part of a 15-year Smithsonian effort to save them from extinction.

The big picture: News of the cat exchange came out of President Trump's Riyadh visit last year, but we're just now learning more. Like how the Saudi gift tops the $24 million from panda patron David Rubenstein, long the zoo's most prominent benefactor, Smithsonian spokesperson Ellie Tahmaseb confirms to Axios.

• And what the leopard lair will look like. Newly submitted concept drawings put the cats next door to the panda house, in a mesh-covered, rugged dwelling reminiscent of their hilly wild.
• The design gets a hearing on Thursday at the National Capital Planning Commission, the Trump-stacked board whose appointees will pay attention to everything from limestone bricks to authentic flora.

Between the lines: For the Saudis, much more so than a prince's gift to Georgetown University, or backing think tanks, the leopard liaisons are a splashier show of soft power. You might call it a copycat of China's panda diplomacy.

• The rare beasts, fierce but littlest among leopard species, delighted Trump, as the NY Times reported after the Riyadh trip, and the gesture comes as the kingdom seeks to improve its image in Washington after the 2018 killing of Jamal Khashoggi.
• Geopolitics expert Ian Bremmer tells Axios that there's "more to this than just a Saudi effort to buy goodwill."

Reviving the Arabian Leopard's population is a pet project of Princess Reema, the kingdom's ambassador to the U.S., who happens to be a graduate of George Washington University.

• "Not at all surprised she wants to elevate the visibility of that campaign by bringing it to D.C.," Bremmer said in an email.

Zoom in: Plans call for an exterior habitat and an indoor, climate-controlled lair for year-round visitors.

• There'll be a care facility with three leopard dens and space for cubs.
• Plus: A "VIP Viewing Space."

What's ahead: Construction aims to begin in late summer — with a target opening for 2029.

Share this story

D.C.'s most-anticipated new museum finally has an opening date: the National Geographic Museum of Exploration debuts June 26.

Why it matters: The $300 million transformation of Nat Geo's 140-year-old campus near downtown has been years in the making — and it's not your typical museum. Think high-tech, hands-on and built for all ages.

The vibe: Part museum, part immersive adventure — and a big swing for a D.C. institution whose campus has been part of city life since the early 20th century.

What you'll see: A series of cinematic galleries, interactive exhibits and a new 400-seat theater designed to drop you into the world of exploration.

Highlights include:

🐳 A massive outdoor courtyard: Life-sized wildlife sculptures across six ecosystems, plus nighttime projections like massive whales and floating tortoises that feel like diving underwater.

🐒 "Photo Ark: Animals of Earth": A stunning digital exhibit bringing Joel Sartore's portraits of global and endangered species to life.

🌍 Rolex Explorers Landing: Follow the journey from curiosity to real-world discovery, from deep sea to outer space.

📖 The Archives: A deep dive into Nat Geo's storytelling legacy, with iconic images, artifacts and interactive media.

😋 Explorers Eatery: A global food hall with rotating cuisines (from Peruvian to Vietnamese), a cozy bar, and dining space indoors and out.

💭 Anna's thought bubble: D.C. is spoiled with free Smithsonians — but after a hard-hat tour, this feels worth the price. Yes, "immersive" is overused, but the museum delivers with cutting-edge tech that meets real artifacts and a century-plus of storytelling.

• Take "Photo Ark," one of the finished exhibits I saw. The immersive images are moving, memorable and built around Sartore's mission to "show a world worth saving." It got me (in a good way) — and I can only imagine it'll stick with a generation of school kids bound to visit.

🪧 A lot happened around town this weekend, from thousands marching in a No Kings protest to the National Kite Festival (above) returning to the National Mall just as peak bloom hit.

• WaPo talked to some of the biggest kite enthusiasts, like Danny Wyman from Gaithersburg, who said: "There's something special about the connection between the person on the ground and the feeling of the wind in the sky." (gift link)

🛃 BWI was a mess, as some security lines were spotted stretching outdoors, while ICE was deployed Saturday to work with TSA. Things picked up pace yesterday, though the airport still advises arriving three hours early. (WTOP)

• DCA was breezy, thankfully, per Cuneyt's experience yesterday.

🌳 Trump's "Safe and Beautiful" strikes again: After groans about Meridian Hill closing this summer for repairs, Logan Circle Park is closing, too — starting today through June 15. (PopVille)

It's a tie!

Axios readers have crowned two lil' cherry blossoms to replace Stumpy, via our poll:

• Sir Gnarl the Brave and The Leaning Viscount received equally enthusiastic votes.

Go see the short princes before peak bloom is gone!