Conservation of Asiatic cheetah

Project Animal(s) : Asiatic cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus venaticus)
Project Category : Mammals
Project Region : Across the World, Asia, Europe
Project Type : Conservation
Project URL : http://www.catsg.org/index.php?id=599
Project is timebound? : No

The cheetah is included in Appendix I of CITES and it is fully protected throughout most of its range. Hunting is prohibited in Iran and Afghanistan. The cheetah was declared protected in 1959 by the former Iranian Game Council.

In 2001, the Conservation of Asiatic Cheetah Project (CACP) and the Iranian Cheetah Society (ICS) were established with the aim to save the species in Iran. Since then, more information on the cheetah’s distribution and status in the country is available. Measures necessary to raise the protection level of cheetah habitat were implemented, education activities and awareness campaigns conducted, and conservation measures promoted.

Interest among young researchers for cat, carnivore and wildlife conservation and research in general has increased through the Asiatic cheetah conservation work and international awareness was raised. The cheetah receives now high attention from the Iranian community. However, conservation measures have to go on to assure its long-term survival. More monitoring activities are still needed to provide sufficient data on the Asiatic cheetah’s distribution and status in Iran. This is essential for its conservation. Moreover, it is important to understand the factors influencing cheetah spatial ecology in order to develop effective and appropriate regional conservation strategies.

Most protected areas are not large enough to support a viable cheetah population. Therefore, effective conservation management also outside protected areas is of high importance. A crucial point for the long-term survival of the Asiatic cheetah is the provision of enough wild prey. Its prey species must be protected and poaching be prevented.

Project Agency : Cat Specialist Group

Project Agency Contact : http://www.catsg.org/index.php?id=1

Additional Information :

http://www.catsg.org/index.php?id=13