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Research

Explorers of Hope Follow the Trail of a Cheetah in a Rural Area

by pourmir November 12, 2023

written by pourmir 1 minutes read

Last week, we received a report about the sighting of a cheetah by the residents of Kalateh Sadat village. We, who were working in Touran, went to the site with the rangers as part of the “Explorers of Hope” project and talked to the person who had filmed the cheetah. The calmness of the animal and its reluctance to leave the area was a worrying issue for us.

After examining all the evidence, it seemed that the animal had hunted in the same area where there were plenty of gazelles, and that was why it did not leave the place. The rangers of Touran and the experts of the Department of Environment of Miyami city also arrived in the area and we accompanied them.

Considering the lack of further sightings of this cheetah, we hope that it has moved away from this road.

Two important points should be mentioned: Mr. Mousavi emphasizes in the video that the cheetah is weak. We do not see anything suspicious in the video. Generally, people who are not familiar with the physique of the cheetah think that the animal is sick and skinny, while this body shape is part of the evolved anatomy of the Asiatic Cheetah.

The video quality is low and the image is not identifiable. However, considering the proximity of the point where “Mahatab” was recently filmed, we guess that this cheetah is Mahatab. Watch the video report (in Persian) on our YouTube channel.

November 12, 2023 0 comments

Leopard Program

A Rare Glimpse of a Persian Leopard Hunting

by pourmir October 15, 2023

written by pourmir 1 minutes read

We are thrilled to share with you this amazing picture captured by one of our camera traps in the Touran Biosphere Reserve. This is the first time we have ever seen a Persian leopard attempt to hunt Persian Onagers in front of our cameras. Although she was unsuccessful in her attempt, this stunning shot is very valuable for us as it reveals some of the secrets of this elusive and endangered big cat.

The Persian leopard is the largest of the leopard subspecies. It can weigh up to 90 kg (198 lbs) and measure up to 191 cm (6 ft) in length, not including the tail.

The Persian leopard is native to Western and Central Asia, ranging from Turkey to Pakistan. It lives in remote mountainous regions, from dry and arid areas to dense forests and snowy peaks. It prefers rocky slopes, mountain steppes, and sparse juniper forests, where it can find shelter and ambush its prey.

The Persian leopard faces many threats to its survival, such as habitat loss and fragmentation, poaching, human-wildlife conflict, and prey depletion. Since 2016, it has been listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, as the wild population is estimated at less than 1000 mature individuals. Conservation efforts are underway to protect its habitat, reduce poaching and conflict, monitor its population, and raise awareness about its importance for the ecosystem.

October 15, 2023 0 comments

Hiring rangers in Asiatic Cheetah habitat

Asiatic Cheetah Conservation Program

Supporting Cheetah Conservation: Increasing Conservation Forces in Touran and Miandasht

by pourmir July 31, 2022

written by pourmir 0 minutes read

Efficient protection forces are essential for preserving endangered species such as the Asiatic Cheetah. By increasing the number of protection forces in each habitat, the quality of protection in the region can be improved. In 2021, the Iranian Cheetah Society hired two rangers in the Touran Biosphere Reserve. These rangers, who are also from the local community, help with patrolling, rehabilitation, and water supply to waterholes, among other activities. We were able to extend their contracts for another full year thanks to our national and international donors.

July 31, 2022 0 comments

The Iranian Cheetah Society’s statement following the news of the release of new areas for mining exploration in the only viable habitat of the cheetah.

ICS News

Iranian Cheetah Society Responds to Mining Plans in Cheetah Habitat

by pourmir May 23, 2022

written by pourmir 1 minutes read

Following the news of the release of new areas for mining exploration, the society expressed its concern to the government about the new mining activities in Touran and Miandasht and published the response for public awareness. In the image, the extensive overlap of the new area with the last viable habitat of the cheetah in Iran can be seen. The green area indicates the border of the Touran Biosphere Reserve and the red line is the area released in the cadastre system of the Ministry of Industry, Mine and Trade with an area of about 16 thousand square kilometers. An area that practically includes all points of cheetah observation in Touran.

In the follow-up, we learned that the Office of Habitats and Protected Areas Affairs, which is responsible for issuing mining permits in the Department of Environment, had considered this announcement illegal and had also reflected the violation to the judiciary. In a recent meeting with the director general of this office, we also received a letter from the judiciary to the Ministry of Industry, Mine, and Trade regarding these areas. In this letter, which cannot be published publicly for legal reasons, the judiciary has warned the Ministry of Industry, Mine and Trade that if it repeats violations of regulations by not issuing permits in protected areas, this will be considered a violation of government employees’ law and will face serious confrontation by the judicial system.

May 23, 2022 0 comments

Research

Asiatic Cheetah family sighted by rangers in Touran Biosphere Reserve

by pourmir November 30, 2021

written by pourmir 0 minutes read

Rangers of Touran National Park captured this footage from a Cheetah family in Touran Biosphere Reserve yesterday. This family was recorded previously and is known as the “Talkhab Family”.

November 30, 2021 0 comments

Leopard Program

Cooperation between Qazvin’s DOE and ICS in order to decease the Human-wildlife conflicts

by pourmir September 15, 2021

written by pourmir 1 minutes read

ICS and Qazvin’s DOE had signed an agreement in order to study the conflicts between humans and wildlife in the Tarom Sofla area. Identifying solutions and also propose management methods to decrease these conflicts are the aims of this agreement.

Interview with local people

According to Qazvin’s DOE report, the ICS’s scientific and practical capacities were considered in solving these conflicts in the Tarom Sofla area. Identification type and impact of conflicts of wildlife on human life in the area, finding the reason for these conflicts, determine the priority of damages which were made by wildlife for human life, determine the solutions to decrease these conflicts with the help of locals and etc, are the purpose of ICS’s activity in the conservation area of the Tarom Sofla in 2021.
The conservation area of the Tarom Sofla is a good conservation habitat for Iranian leopards. Also, there are other spices like brown bear, lynx, wild goat in the area.

September 15, 2021 0 comments

Explorers of Hope

North Khorasan journey with explorers of hope team

by pourmir August 26, 2021

written by pourmir 1 minutes read

Due to the pandemic of Covid-19 and its limitations, the Explorers of Hope team was not able to travel in the past months, and their major activities were focused on collecting information from long distances. Finally, they traveled to Joghatay country in cooperation with the Department of Environment of Khorasan province on 28 and 29 July 2021.

Explorers of Hope team surveyed between Miandasht Wildlife Refuge and Touran Biosphere Reserve to recognize the probable crossing corridor of Cheetah with the accompany of the head of Joghatay’s DOE. For this purpose, they interviewed local people such as farmers, ranchers, and shepherds who are in the rangeland of the area.
In the continuation of surveying, the team visited the probable areas of Cheetah presence reported by the locals and the area’s water sources. The data shows the conclusion that recognizing the potential crossing corridor of cheetahs requires more investigations in northern villages in the Semnan province and the Abass Abad region.

August 26, 2021 0 comments

ICS News

Proof of Asiatic Cheetah presence in rangeland which ICS and IUCN NL secured for conservation

by pourmir August 22, 2021

written by pourmir 2 minutes read

The Iranian Cheetah Society (ICS), supported by IUCN Netherlands, succeeded in evacuating livestock in 5,600 hectares of rangeland on the edge of Touran National Park. This intervention soon paid off; these photos are the first pictures of the Asiatic Cheetah’s presence in this area! Unfortunately, even though the 5,600 hectares are located in a vital part of the cheetah’s habitat in Iran, no cheetah pictures were available from this area.

[irp posts=”22791″ name=”The starting of nationwide population monitoring the Asiatic Cheetah”]

Background

Livestock evacuation from the rangelands in this area became a priority action for ICS and the Iranian Department of the Environment (DOE) in this region to protect the critically endangered Asiatic cheetah from extinction. ICS estimates that less than 30 Asiatic Cheetahs remain in the wild, all of them in Iran. ICS managed to revoke the grazing permits and installed the camera traps in this area to ensure the presence of this valuable species.

Annually, almost 80.000 livestock in more than 120 herds with 300 dogs are allowed to roam across the Touran Biosphere Reserve. However, due to drought in recent years, herds occupy the most suitable pastures and proper habitats. This makes the ungulates and their predators move to less-preferred areas during harsh winters. Besides, the wildlife is also directly affected because of many herd dogs within the area, as well as cryptic poaching efforts by herders. Poachers also find more opportunities during grazing seasons because they can pretend they are herders looking for their livestock or trying to find proper vegetation for their animals.

In fact, due to the presence of livestock higher than this arid area’s capacity, Touran Biosphere Reserve provides risky winters for the wildlife, both due to drawbacks in proper grazing habitats for the wildlife as well as much more susceptibility to the poachers due to the presence of many people inside the area.

Accordingly, several Asiatic Cheetahs have been caught/killed by people/herd dogs in recent years during their presence with their domestic animals. Also, overgrazing threatens Asiatic Cheetah’s prey with limited food resources and makes them go to higher elevations because their habitat is occupied by livestock.

Success

These recorded photos are the first pictures of the cheetah’s presence in this area. According to the identification database, they belong to identified cheetahs with the names of Telma and Fegheh. Thus, the recorded presence of these two cheetahs in the new area is now undeniable, which is a fascinating reward for the hard work of our field team.

Currently, ICS monitors all critical Asiatic Cheetah spots in Touran Biosphere Reserve using camera traps in cooperation with the Iranian DOE.

[irp posts=”22522″ name=”Creating a Livestock-Free Wildlife Refuge to Safeguard the Critically Endangered Asiatic Cheetah”]

August 22, 2021 0 comments

Discovery of an Asiatic cheetah carcass in the city of Miami

Explorers of Hope

Discovery of an Asiatic cheetah carcass in the city of Mayamei

by pourmir May 15, 2021

written by pourmir 0 minutes read

On the 12th of May,2021 the authorities announced the discovery of an Asiatic cheetah carcass around Maimi city.
The carcass, which included the end of the body of a female cheetah, was found by a local rancher. According to the Department of Environment of Semnan Province, the cause of death is still unknown and a long time has passed since it.

May 15, 2021 0 comments

Asiatic Cheetah Conservation Program

Livestock removed from a 5,600+ hectares area to make it a secure home for Asiatic Cheetah

by pourmir March 17, 2021

written by pourmir 3 minutes read

Conservation is a complicated field that could differ with different situations and the target species. These complication gets higher when the local people and their interests are involved in a project. One of the biggest enigmas for conservationists is creating a win-win situation. Therefore, they always need to assess the situation and use the previous experiences with an open mind.

Iran is home to the last wild population of Asiatic Cheetahs in the world. Two areas have always been of importance; Miandasht Wildlife Refuge and Touran Biosphere Reserve. Due to ICS investigations, it is clear that grazing rights are an endangerment for cheetahs in these areas. With the help of the Netherlands’ IUCN National Committee, we were looking for an appropriate and efficient solution for reducing the overgrazing pressure of livestock in the cheetah’s habitat. The initial idea was to relocate herders outside the national park to secure critical seasons (i.e., winter and spring) for the cheetah and decreasing livestock overgrazing pressure on the area’s fragile rangelands to provide resources for wild ungulates.

Asiatic Cheetah in Touran Biosphere Reserve

As the project furthered, we found out that the livestock grazing permission prices have doubled up. This made the available budget insufficient. Thus, the negotiations for buying all the available permits didn’t work out at the moment. Hence, the ICS came to an agreement with the DoE of Semnan province so they would pay for the rest of the budget.

The failure in providing the needed budget until 2017, reduction of Rial value, and increasing inflation made the ICS change the project location. After contacting other provinces’ Departments of Environment that host Cheetah and coordinating with the Conservation of Asiatic Cheetah Project (CACP) and the DoE of North Khorasan request, ICS finally relocated this project to this province. Again, the process of buying the grazing permits in the Miandasht Wildlife Reserve started, but because of the government budget allocation, the prices raised again, and once more, the project came to a stop.

In 2018 and after management changes in Semnan province, ICS reconsidered the Touran National Park for the project again. Finally, the negotiations with one of the stock owners were going according to the plans, and even the budget was enough this time. Still, unfortunately, because of the official technicalities, the project remained unfinished.
In 2020 the ICS and DoE both separately started corresponding with the Department of Forests and Rangelands and the Iranian parliament to discuss law enforcement’s absence, which never happened because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Meanwhile, the ICS tried to maintain the agreement with the stock owner. Due to the one-year pause between the agreement, the price of grazing permits doubled again; we feared we would not be able to finalize the deal.
But we succeeded! We finalized our agreement with one of the most important permission owners in Touran Biosphere Reserve. With the revocation of the exploitation permit in the northern edge of Touran National Park, an area of 5,600 hectares will be permanently empty of livestock. This permit has covered 498 livestock.

Panorama view of the purchased pasture

Panorama view coral in the purchased pasture

Although this project was postponed due to unforeseen events, it brought us the same amount of lessons learned and ultimately ended in an impressive end.” We would like to thank Netherlands’ IUCN National Committee Land Acquisition Program for their commitment to make this a success. Because of our joint efforts, an important area has been secured for the next generation of Asiatic Cheetah in one of the key reserves.