“Wildlife Extra introduced the ICS as Good Cause of Month in September 2010. As an invaluable internet source for wildlife news, the UK website announces different NGOs working to save the wildlife on a monthly basis. Last August, the ICS’ Persian leopard efforts have been presented on the Wildlife Extra website which is highly visited. You can see the ICS’ Good Cause of Month here.“
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Ranging across most of Africa and part of the Middle East, caracal is a medium-sized member of cat family. It occurs within majority of arid environments of central and eastern parts of Iran and is considered as the most ecologically studied lesser cat in the country. Globally, the species has been divided into 8 sub-species worldwide and the Asian sub-species is called C. caracal schmitzi. Moreover, a small range in Turkmenistan and northeastern Iran is called C. caracal michaelis. The IUCN lists C. caracal as a species of least concern, but concedes that C. caracal schmitzi is unclassified and C. caracal michaelis is endangered; C. c. michaelis appears to be threatened in most of its range. Paucity of available information on caracals in Iran raises the important question as to what sub-species it constitutes? After conducting genetic studies on Persian leopard in collaboration with Iranian Department of Environment and University of Tehran, the Iranian Cheetah Society (ICS) has officially initiated a new study since 2011 to investigate phylogeny and genetic diversity of the caracals in Iran which is in partnership with the Iranian DoE and Lisbon University, Portugal. So far, around 30 different caracals from different parts of Iran have been samples, mostly killed in road incidents or confiscated by game wardens and laboratory analysis are being undertaken. There is no doubt that reports of a specimen, however old, can help us in this research, especially from the northern and north-eastern parts of Iran. We are therefore urging the readers of this article to provide us with any information they may have on any type of specimen such as carcasses or stuffed animals.
A training workshop was held in the city of Arak, west central Iran to enhance professional knowledge among game wardens and experts. Attended by around 30 people from various reserves of the region, the workshop was organized by Markazi Provincial Office of Environment and the Iranian Cheetah Society (ICS). Ecology of leopard was the main topic covered in the workshop. Meanwhile, tracking and quick survey methods were also presented by the ICS trainer. Sharing scientific information and methodologies with game wardens and experts has been a main field of effort since late 2009 by the Iranian Cheetah Society (ICS) to enhance capacity of the Iranian community for effective conservation of the wildlife.
In order to monitor population of elusive cat species, the largest camera trapping project has been implementing in central Iran since December 2011. Simultaneously, Bafq Protected Area, Ariz No Hunting Area, Dare Anjir Wildlife Refuge and Siahkouh Protected Area and National Park are hosting nearly 100 camera traps for more than three months which is a unique trial comparing to previous efforts to monitor cat populations in the country. The project has been jointly implemented by the Iranian Cheetah Society (ICS) and Yazd Office of Iranian Department of Environment (DoE) with financial and logistical support from CACP, Panthera, Conservation des Especes et des Populations Animales (CEPA) and Prins Bernhard Natuurfonds (PBNF) through Stichting SPOTS.
During the monitoring program, almost 8000 square kilometer of central desert biome of the country have been monitored to find evidence of rare species, particularly critically endangered Asiatic cheetah and endangered Persian leopard which both exist across fragile desert areas of Iran. The method has been approved as promising to monitor spotted cats, but it has been rarely applied for these species in Iran in a systematic approach, especially the Asiatic cheetah. Accordingly, after training workshops for local game wardens and experts, different brands of camera traps were deployed to suitable locations to capture various animals, including iconic cats.
Results of this survey will indicate how conservation efforts have affected cheetah survival in the country and will give the first reliable population estimate across multiple reserves in Iran. Also, the present snapshot will provide a scientific glimpse into rich mammalian diversity of desert ecosystems of central Iran. The camera traps will be picked up in late March to analyze their data and results will be presented to decision-makers.
Bafq Protected Area is now fighting for its survival as one of the main environmental challenges of the country is threatening the area. As usual like many other protected areas in the world, a road is planned to be developed through heart of the reserve, an area which is one of the main hotspots for two rare species, Asiatic cheetah and Persian leopard. The road shortens the present road of a couple of villages behind Bafq Mountain to the central city. Now, local people have to drive some 78 km in a well-developed flat road to arrive to the city, but the new 56 km road is not a significant shortcut, just reduces 22 km comparing to existing route. Moreover, the new road passes through dangerous and steep mountainous slopes which while enhancing traffic incidences, increases fuel consumption as vehicles need to drive in mountainous road. In the meantime, the Iranian Department of Environment has offered two new alternatives which affect the protected area less adversely; however, less success has been achieved to establish these new items. Located in central country, Bafq is one of the most important habitats for our two big cats where numerous records of cheetah and leopard families indicate a breeding site for two species, particularly for the critically endangered Asiatic cheetah. It has been under official protection since 1996 and now, there is a relatively good population of above-mentioned cats as well as caracal and Manul
Following successful experience of Cheetah Theater during past year, the Iranian Cheetah Society (ICS) is now developing a new theater for an endangered species, the Persian leopard. The leopard is the largest existing cat in west Asia which has a gloomy future, even inside Iran where the animal is still more abundant than the cheetahs. Meanwhile, numerous animals are killed every year which according to a recent evaluation, it is at least one animal per week. A majority of these mortalities are due to unawareness of local people which the theater is expected to be used to train communities. After more than 40 implementation in Tehran as well as local cities around the cheetah habitats, the
A special feature on Iranian brown bears has been covered in recent Hamshahri Sarzamin-e-Man, a monthly magazine with vast public audience. You can read exciting stories about several years studying the bears in different parts of Iran written by Bagher Nezami, the ICS field biologist. Population studies, behavior and life history of the largest carnivore of the country has been illustrated in the recent paper. Bagher has finished his master on the brown bears and has joined IUCN Bear Specialist Group. The magazine which is so-called as the Iranian National Geographic is published on a monthly basis and features one species. So far, the Iranian Cheetah Society (ICS) has contributed to publish relevant papers on Persian leopard, Asiatic cheetah, grey wolf and now, the brown bear in order to spread knowledge on the species in the Iranian community.
Local hunters in Kalmand Protected Area, central Iran attended in a half-day festival in the city of Mehriz. Organized by Yazd Provincial Office of Iranian Department of Environment, the festival was opened by local high-ranking authorities to spread importance of wildlife protection to the local hunters. Kalmand hosts high diversity of Iranian fauna, including Asiatic cheetah, Persian leopard, onager, goitered gazelle, caracal, ibex and wild sheep which is under official protection since 1996. During 2010, the Iranian Cheetah Society (ICS) implemented an educational program to increase local people
In 2011, the Iranian Cheetah Society (ICS) celebrates its 10th birthday. Established in 2001, the ICS was launched by three enthusiastic students all committed to do something for the vanishing Asiatic cheetahs in Iran. The animal had a gloomy status at those years and the least hope exists among the most optimistic experts for its survival. Beside the Iranian Department of Environment (DoE), the ICS devoted itself to safeguard the cheetahs in Iran through two practical objectives, namely as research and public awareness.
As working hard through the time, the ICS captured new expertise and equipment and broadened its activities to cover Iranian carnivores, particularly Persian leopard, striped hyena, brown bear, and grey wolf. Accordingly, it has been conducting the first on ground research programs on the species and supported university students to investigate on these creatures. Also, educational plans were implemented across most of vast habitats of the cheetahs in Iran as well as other species. In order to be more effective, the ICS established documentary film as the third section to produce high quality wildlife movies in Iran to illustrate our unique biodiversity for people.
Now, the Iranian Cheetah Society (ICS) has around 30 staffs and more than 300 volunteers in Iran. Also, there is well-organized international network of the ICS representatives based in the Europe and North America supporting us in Iran. We have the highest level of scientific equipment in Iran which can guarantee our hard and continuous efforts in the field. Meanwhile, the ICS has been regularly recognized to receive high-level national and international awards, thanks to severe attempts made by our staffs, volunteers and supporters.
However, the ICS is not happy when sees that almost no coherent is still exist from its generation, nearly all several dozen hundreds of Iranian environmental NGOs started at those years have been faded. We are hopeful to see our second decade of life with more NGOs working in Iran hands in hands to secure future of our biodiversity.
As the most internationally-known Iranian NGO, the Iranian Cheetah Society (ICS) is grateful to all colleagues, partners, donors and sponsors who recognized our passion to the Iranian wildlife and knew us as eligible to be supported. Despite of surviving in harsh and difficult environment, like where the cheetahs live, we are aware that we are now at start point, of course not fragile but robust. Ahead, we see a long way that we can be effective and any possible advice or contribution is highly appreciated. We