Recent genetic researches have revealed that most of Persian leopards within the European and American zoos are not originally from Iran. The project which was jointly implemented by the Iranian Cheetah Society (ICS), Conservation of Asiatic Cheetah Project, Iranian Department of Environment and University of Tehran was based on comparing genetic sequences of a few dozens of leopard samples from around Iran and several individuals which were supposed to be the purest representatives within a number of world zoos. The Iranian leopards and captive Persian leopards fall within two distinct clusters which can be an indication of hybridization, as well. Meanwhile, it is probably that the zoo animals have been captured from non-Iranian countries within the Persian leopard range in west Asia some while ago. Based on latest assessment by EAZA/EEP, there are around 100 Persian leopards in the European zoos which have been descended from 9 founders and potential genetic inbreeding depression is a main concern among the zoos.

In order to celebrate the Year of Biodiversity, a marathon through the central Kavir is held since 22 to 25 April 2010 in Kavir National Park. The porgram is organzied by Environmentalists Society with cooperation of various GOs and NGOs, including the Iranian Cheetah Society (ICS). Participants will pass some 130 kilometers from Badroud to Carvanserai where is the main game post of Kavir National Park. It is held on Earth Day to support wild cats in Kavir, particulalry Asiatic cheetah.

In order to educate university students, a number of workshops and meetings have been held in different cities. During “Environment Fair” in University of Yazd, the Iranian Cheetah Society represented by Yasaman Hasan Beigi, ICS Conservation Educator graduated from the University of Yazd organized a cheetah booth which has a special guest, a Stuffed Cheetah which was recently killed in road incidents in southern Yazd. University students as well as common people visited the cheetah booth in the most important province for the Iranian cheetahs in the country.

In northeastern Iran, enthusiastic students of University of Sabzevar invited the ICS to participate in their first “Ecotourism Conference”. Motreza Eslami, ICS Managing Director was among the guests who gave a lecture about the cheetahs and their future in Iran. Also, he accompanied the students during their visit to one of the most outstanding habitats for gazelles in Iran, Shirahmad Wildlife Refuge.

Also, before finishing April, Iranian Students Organization which is led by the Iranian Ministry of Higher Education asked Mohammad Farhadinia to hold a workshop entitled “Entrepreneurship in Environment & Biodiversity” for university students who wish to work on the field which was represented by more than 20 students NGOs from Iranian universities. Capacity building programs for university students has been always an essential issue for the Iranian Cheetah Society (ICS) to train them for conservation, research and local education programs in Iran.  

The presence of the critically endangered Asiatic cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus venaticus) has been verified in several protected areas in central Iran. However, there is a scarcity of data on the feeding ecology of this taxon. Prey selection by the Asiatic cheetah was studied in Dare-Anjir Wildlife Refuge, one of its typical habitats in central Iran where there are no carnivorous competitors. The frequency of cheetah kills was compared with the relative abundance of each of its primary prey species obtained through two independent surveys. Jebeer gazelle (Gazella bennettii) was least abundant, but was the preferred prey of cheetah, while wild sheep (Ovis orientalis) followed by Persian ibex (Capra aegagrus) were the most frequently killed prey. Cheetahs selectively preyed on males of the three prey species. Our data suggest that Asiatic cheetahs prey mainly on mountain ungulates (wild sheep and Persian ibex) which has management implications for effective conservation of this taxon in Iran.  You can read more results in detail on the below paper:

Prey selection by the critically endanegerd Asiatic cheetah in central Iran (2010)