The Department of Environment has officially revised the national Asiatic cheetah conservation program in collaboration with environmental experts, academics, rangers, and non-governmental organizations. The updated initiative prioritizes reducing human-induced threats while strengthening habitat protection across the country. Consequently, the government aims to safeguard the world’s last remaining wild population of this critically endangered species.
Hamid Zohrabi, deputy head of natural habitats and biodiversity, outlined several key measures to improve habitat safety. The department is working to control free-ranging livestock and camels, monitor vital waterholes, and prevent illegal hunting. Furthermore, authorities are strengthening field surveillance and implementing road safety measures to reduce fatal vehicle collisions involving cheetahs.
Officials announced the policy updates during National Cheetah Day events held across the country on August 31. Environmental leaders use the occasion to raise public awareness about the urgent need to protect vulnerable big cats. Additionally, the department plans to expand camera-trap networks and promote participatory conservation initiatives involving local communities.
Regarding captive-breeding efforts, Zohrabi confirmed that young females displayed appropriate mating behavior during the latest breeding season. However, the facility recorded no new births, which officials partly attributed to the females’ young age. Therefore, the government continues to prioritize habitat preservation while treating captive breeding as a supporting measure.
The Asiatic cheetah roamed vast plains stretching from West Asia to India. Today, it survives exclusively within Iranian borders. Since 2001, human-related factors have killed approximately 85 cheetahs, demonstrating that human activity remains the species’ primary existential threat. The latest government reports indicate that only 26 individuals remain nationwide, including 20 in the wild and six in captivity.
Department of Environment head Shina Ansari emphasized that preserving the rare big cat represents a broader commitment to protecting ecosystem health. President Masoud Pezeshkian previously issued a presidential order mandating strategic plans to protect endangered national wildlife. Consequently, the government has developed targeted action plans for 25 endangered species to prevent further biodiversity loss.
A total of 154 Iranian vertebrate species face critical extinction risks, with amphibians representing the most vulnerable animal group. Moving forward, the department will establish a dedicated committee focusing on critically endangered cheetahs, Asiatic black bears, and great bustards. Successful implementation will require sustained financial resources, clear operational planning, and broad public participation across society.