TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iran is intensifying its efforts to protect the critically endangered Asiatic cheetah, striving to prevent the species from disappearing entirely from its last known refuge.
Once found from the Red Sea to India, the Asiatic cheetah’s population has drastically declined over the last century.
Today, only about 50 to 70 individuals remain in Iran, primarily in the eastern regions, a significant drop from around 400 in the 1990s.
This decline is attributed to poaching, loss of prey—primarily gazelles—and habitat encroachment.
The cheetahs face additional dangers, including vehicle collisions and conflicts with livestock guardian dogs.
Hossein Harati, head of the environmental department and park rangers at the Miandasht Wildlife Refuge in northeastern Iran, noted that shepherds can graze their flocks in cheetah territories, leading to dangerous encounters.
At the refuge, rangers are caring for a male cheetah named Koushki, who was rescued by a local man seven years ago after being purchased from a hunter who killed his mother.
Morteza Eslami Dehkordi, director of the Iranian Cheetah Society, explained that the rescuer, concerned about environmental protection, handed the cub over to the Department of Environment. The cheetah was named after his rescuer’s family.
With support from the United Nations, the Iranian government is enhancing its conservation efforts. These initiatives include providing rangers with night vision goggles and installing surveillance cameras in cheetah habitats. Cheeky cheetahs are also fitted with GPS collars supplied by the U.N. to monitor their movements.
In arid regions, authorities have constructed shelters that provide water access for the cats and engaged local communities by training them in cohabitation strategies and offering compensation for livestock losses to discourage hunting.
Additionally, any developmental projects in cheetah habitats must receive approval from Iran’s Environmental Department.
The awareness campaign for the Asiatic cheetah received a boost during the ongoing World Cup in Brazil, where members of Iran’s national football team sported cheetah images on their uniforms.
Since 2006, August 31 has been designated as Iran’s National Cheetah Day to raise awareness about the species.
Historically known as “hunting leopards,” Asiatic cheetahs were trained by emperors and kings in Iran and India to hunt gazelles.
The species disappeared from the Middle East around a century ago, with occasional sightings in Saudi Arabia until the 1950s.
They became extinct in India in 1947 and were last seen in Central Asia, including Kazakhstan, until the 1980s.
Gary Lewis from the U.N. Development Program expressed concern over the dwindling population in Iran.
“There are no other Asiatic cheetahs like those found here, so it is essential to protect this animal to conserve our biodiversity,” he stated.
Under moderate President Hassan Rouhani, Iran aims to boost foreign tourism by highlighting its natural wonders, including the Asiatic cheetah.
“It is an endangered species and considered one of the most charismatic cats,” noted Vice President Masoumeh Ebtekar, who heads Iran’s Department of the Environment.
“We are taking significant steps with international organizations and national experts to protect this species. The cheetah is crucial for ecotourism, attracting visitors who want to witness this majestic animal in its natural habitat.”
While the Asiatic cheetah faces dire challenges, African cheetah populations are also at risk, with an estimated 10,000 adults remaining worldwide.
Read more Wildlife News.