News - Iranian Cheetah Society

Asiatic Cheetah Population Monitoring Program

New Report on Asiatic Cheetah Population in Iran Released

by pourmir October 22, 2024

written by pourmir 1 minutes read

The Iranian Cheetah Society is proud to announce the release of a comprehensive report on the status of the Asiatic Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus venaticus) in Iran. This extensive study, conducted from 2021 to 2023, provides critical insights into the population dynamics, breeding patterns, and conservation challenges faced by this endangered species.

Key Highlights:

Population Insights: The study documented the presence of six female cheetahs, four male cheetahs, and 17 cubs in the Touran Biosphere Reserve, highlighting the region’s importance as a breeding habitat¹.
Conservation Challenges: The report underscores the urgent need for enhanced conservation efforts, including the installation of satellite collars and genetic studies, to ensure the survival of the Asiatic Cheetah.
Research Findings: Over 797 images of cheetahs were captured, providing valuable data on their movement patterns and habitat use.

We invite all wildlife enthusiasts, researchers, and conservationists to download and read the full report to better understand the current status and future prospects of the Asiatic Cheetah in Iran.

Download the full report here.

October 22, 2024 0 comments

Iranian Cheetah Society Releases Triennial Report on Wildlife Conservation and Asiatic Cheetah Conservation

ICS News

Iranian Cheetah Society Releases Triennial Report For 2021-2023

by pourmir February 11, 2024

written by pourmir 2 minutes read

The Iranian Cheetah Society (ICS), a non-governmental and non-profit organization dedicated to protecting the biodiversity of Iran, has published its triennial report for the period of 2021-2023. The report provides an overview of the activities and projects undertaken by the ICS, highlighting key achievements and challenges in the conservation of the Asiatic cheetah, the Persian leopard, and their habitats.

Some of the notable accomplishments of the ICS include:

Monitoring the population and breeding of the Asiatic cheetah, the flagship species of the ICS, in the Touran Biosphere Reserve and the Miandasht Wildlife Refuge, using camera traps and field surveys.
Launching the “Safe Cheetah Passage” campaign to secure the Tehran-Mashhad highway, which has claimed the lives of several cheetahs due to road accidents.
Exploring the potential corridors and habitats for cheetah movement beyond the protected areas, through the “Explorers of Hope” project.
Examining the conflicts between the Persian leopard and humans in the Tarom-e Sofla region, and proposing solutions to reduce the damage and dissatisfaction among local communities.
Participating in a workshop with the Department of Environment and other stakeholders to increase the capacity for the conservation of the Persian leopard and its habitats.
Implementing various initiatives to improve the water resource management, such as installing wind pumps, hiring water rangers, and designing new water troughs for wildlife accessibility and safety.
Supporting, training, and equipping over 50 rangers in the field, by providing essential gears, vehicles, food, health and safety equipment, and educational workshops.
Publishing a book on education, outreach, and public participation for wildlife conservation in Iran, based on the experiences and lessons learned by the ICS.

The report also acknowledges the generous support of the sponsors, partners, donors, and volunteers who have contributed to the progress and sustainability of the ICS. It concludes with a glimpse into the goals and challenges for 2024, emphasizing the need for international cooperation and investment to secure the future of the Asiatic cheetah and other endangered species in Iran.

The digital version of the report is available for free download below.

2021-2023 Triennial Activity Report

1 file(s) 7.39 MB

Download

February 11, 2024 0 comments

Iranian Cheetah Society team with the Laurie Marker from CCF

Festivals & Conferences

ICS Participated in First Cheetah Global Summit held in Ethiopia

by pourmir February 2, 2024

written by pourmir 2 minutes read

The Global Cheetah Summit, also known as the GCC, was held in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, and was hosted by the Ethiopian Wildlife Conservation Authority (EWCA) and the Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF) based in Namibia. The conference took place over four days, from February 28th to 31st, 2024, and brought together experts and conservationists from around the world to discuss cheetah status and conservation efforts.

The Iranian Cheetah Society, being the only non-governmental group actively involved in Asiatic Cheetah conservation in Iran, participated in the event as Iran’s representative. Unfortunately, despite invitations to the Department of Environment, no representatives from the government attended the summit. Consequently, Iran, as the sole host of the rarest big cat species in Asia, lacked government representation at this significant event.

During the four-day conference, specialists and experts discussed the current status of cheetah populations in various regions. They covered topics related to conservation efforts, achievements, opportunities, and threats faced by this species. The CEO of the Iranian Cheetah Society also presented the ongoing efforts in Iran and the current population situation.

It is estimated that at least 7,500 cheetahs inhabit 31 regions across 23 countries in Asia and Africa. Unfortunately, among the four subspecies—South African, East African, West African, and Asiatic—the Asiatic cheetah has the most precarious population. It is believed that fewer than 30 individuals of this subspecies remain.

To address the urgent need for international collaboration, experts discussed the genetic status of all remaining Asiatic cheetahs and explored the possibility of introducing new genes from other subspecies. The Iranian Cheetah Society continues to advocate for stronger efforts by the government to save the Asiatic (Iranian) cheetah. Current activities, which fall short of previous decades, need to align better with the species’ requirements and ecological context. The society aims to gradually raise awareness about these needs and essential conservation measures.

Our team was sponsored by SPOTS and CCF for our participation in this summit. Their generosity and support were instrumental in making our involvement in this summit possible. We are grateful for their partnership and look forward to continuing our collaboration in the future.

February 2, 2024 0 comments

Asiatic Cheetah Population Monitoring Program

Khorshid: The Everlasting Hope of Turan

by pourmir November 15, 2023

written by pourmir 1 minutes read

Khorshid (The Sun), has managed to successfully raise all four of her cubs until early November. She is a record holder for successful motherhood among cheetahs in Iran, having given birth to three healthy litters. Khorshid is one of the main hopes for the continuation of cheetah reproduction in the heart of Turan. Unfortunately, we have no evidence of “Harb” reproducing this year, although it is her turn to do so.

The safety of Khorshid’s habitat is the primary reason for her success, and we owe this to the sacrifices made by the park’s Rangers.

Two weeks ago, a ranger at Touran National Park, spotted a family of five cheetahs. Although the footage quality was not sufficient to identify the mother, we believed this was the Khorshid family. Khorshid (AKA Talkhab) is a female cheetah who was born in 2016 and has had three successful births so far. She was only recorded once by cameras last winter.

November 15, 2023 0 comments

Explorers of Hope

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

environment news

World Migratory Bird Day

by pourmir October 14, 2023

written by pourmir 1 minutes read

World Migratory Bird Day is the most important and largest day in the world to raise awareness about the importance of birds in nature. This year’s slogan for World Migratory Bird Day is concise and has only one word: “Water!”

Migratory birds depend on water and the loss of wetland ecosystems and water resources will mean the loss of the amazing phenomenon of bird migration, which is the guarantor and indicator of the health of their habitats.

In the images captured by the Iranian Cheetah Society’s camera traps, some common vultures, which are scavenger birds of Iran, can be seen using one of the waterholes in the Turan Biosphere Reserve. This image shows that water resources, although small and limited in desert areas, are of great importance for the survival of birds.

The Iranian Cheetah Society and the Avaye Boom Bird Conservation Society will soon cooperate to improve the waterholes in the protected areas under the supervision of the Department of Environment so that these waterholes will be more protective and conducive to the survival of birds and increase the accessibility of birds to human-made waterholes.

October 14, 2023 0 comments

Presentation of Asiatic Cheetah history in Jajarm

cheetah day

A Call for Joint Efforts to Save the Iranian Cheetah in Northeast of Iran

by pourmir August 23, 2023

written by pourmir 1 minutes read

The Asiatic Cheetah is one of the rarest and most beautiful cats in the world, living in two areas of the Miandasht Wildlife Refuge and Turan Biosphere Reserve. Unfortunately, the Asiatic Cheetah is severely endangered and its population has decreased significantly. To preserve and revive this unique species, joint efforts are needed by the government, researchers, rangers, farmers, etc.

For this purpose, the second National Iranian Cheetah Day conference was held on August 29th of this year in Jajarm County. In this conference, which was attended by environmental activists, provincial and county officials, Iranian Cheetah Society experts, and those interested in protecting endangered species, the latest status of the Iranian cheetah, its protection and reproduction strategies, public awareness and education on the importance of protecting endangered species, the role of civil society organizations in promoting environmental protection culture and especially endangered species were discussed.

The Iranian Cheetah Society also presented a summary of the conditions of Iranian cheetahs and hopes and threats to their return to Miandasht in the near future in this program for audiences. The conference was also an opportunity for communication and collaboration between environmental activists, officials, and people interested in protecting endangered species.

It is hoped that with the continuation of this trend, we will witness the return of cheetahs to the Miandasht Wildlife Refuge.

Photo by: Mehran Sharifi

August 23, 2023 0 comments

Rangers Program

Iranian Cheetah Society’s rangers help protect the Asiatic Cheetah habitat

by pourmir August 22, 2023

written by pourmir 1 minutes read

The Iranian Cheetah Society has been helping to protect the habitat of the Iranian cheetah by providing the salaries of two rangers in the Turan Biosphere Reserve for several years. Ahmad Tea Company and Negin Processing Company have taken over the salaries of these two ranger assistants this year. The ranger assistants can participate in various activities with the rangers and take a lot of burden off their shoulders. In return, the rangers who are judicial officers will have more time to patrol and control the habitat.

This year, like the past two years, Mr. Mohammad Hossein Keyghobadi and Mr. Amin Zahirnejad who are hired from local communities, have been performing their duties as ICS rangers in Turan National Park from the beginning of April to the end of the Persian year. Ahmad Tea Company and Negin Pardazesh Company have taken over the salaries of these two rangers this year.

August 22, 2023 0 comments

ICS News

Summer census of Turan wild ungulates

by pourmir August 22, 2023

written by pourmir 1 minutes read

Every year, in winter and summer, rangers and volunteers survey the protected areas of Iran. These surveys mainly focus on counting ungulates and play an important role in assessing the status of the area, especially when independent experts and volunteers join them. The experts of ICS also participated in this program with the rangers and other volunteers, experts, and enthusiasts of Touran wildlife. The survey took place from August 6 to 9.

Rangers in Touran National Park

Touran Biosphere Reserve covers an area of one and a half million hectares and is one of the largest and most important protected areas in Iran. This reserve has high biodiversity and hosts many unique and endangered wildlife species such as the Persian leopard, Asiatic Cheetah, Gray wolf, wild sheep, wild goat, etc. This reserve plays an important role in maintaining the ecological balance of the region’s desert habitats. Touran Biosphere Reserve is a known World Heritage Site.

August 22, 2023 0 comments