Iran Cheetah Project

The Asiatic cheetah is on the verge of extinction with small populations remaining only in the Islamic Republic of Iran (I.R. of Iran).  The total number is unknown, but is likely between 50 -100 individuals.  Iran considers the cheetah an important part of its natural and cultural heritage and as such has become a symbol of its conservation efforts, not only of that species, but of the environment as a whole.  Because the future of the cheetah is so precarious, Iran’s Dept. of the Environment (DOE) launched a major initiative in conjunction with the UNDP-Global Environment Facility and the help of WCS to save the cheetah, its habitat, and prey.

The Human Aspect
Between 1978 and 1990, the natural habitat of I.R. of Iran was hit hard by human development.  Increasing numbers of livestock, introduced with no consideration for the capacity of the areas, compete with wild sheep, goats, and gazelle for the few remaining resources.  Since 1990, some of the areas that had degraded to desert appear to have recovered, resulting in a slow increase in cheetah prey. 

Threats
The main threats to the Asiatic cheetah are habitat destruction, loss of prey species, and direct killing by humans.  The fragile semi-arid habitat of cheetah is being degraded and in some places is returning to desert.   About 96% of the natural habitat of the I.R. of Iran has been altered by spreading agriculture, industries, human settlements, mining and infrastructure.  Most rural people also raise livestock which compete with gazelle, urial sheep and wild goat – the cheetah’s main prey species.

WCS Activities
In November 2000, WCS scientist Dr. George Schaller first visited I.R. of Iran to assist the DOE in the implementation of the cheetah project, which had been initiated by UNDP and the DOE.  Between 2001 and 2003, WCS assisted the DOE in implementing emergency measures to mitigate threats including preventing the killing of cheetah and ungulate prey species, the scientific planning of protected areas, the increase of staff and equipment for protected areas, and the control of livestock numbers and overgrazing in protected areas. Additionally, WCS has implemented surveys to determine the distribution and abundance of cheetah, other large carnivores (leopard, wolf, striped hyena), and prey (gazelles, wild goat, urial, hare) in the principal known cheetah areas. WCS has been responsible for training DOE personnel in conducting scientifically rigorous surveys of these key wildlife species in the five CACP reserves, namely Kavir NP, Khar Touran NP, Naybandan WR, Daranjeer WR and Bafq PA. The next stage of the project is the first targeted research on the behavior and ecology of the Asiatic cheetah and associated carnivores as executed with radio-telemetry, as well as investigation into the movement and demography of prey species. In February 2007, we captured two Asiatic cheetahs and a Persian leopard and fitted them with GPS collars, a first for both species. As corollaries to this effort, we will also begin detailed rangeland studies and will assist with location education efforts. Finally, all these activities will directly inform the development of a comprehensive co-management and conservation plan for the cheetah.

Important Next Steps
In addition to the activities described above, the Iran cheetah program will continue to do the following activities:
• Control livestock access to cheetah habitat in protected areas. 
• Increase the capacity of park staff patrolling the protected areas to prevent livestock grazing and illegal killing of cheetahs.
• Develop management programs with local pastoralist communities.