Iranian cheetahs threatened by increased poaching – Major conference to be held

Iran Cheetah Conference - 5th October

Tehran will host National Conference of Iranian Cheetahs, organized by the ICS and Iran DoE on 5 October 2013. With various talks to be given by high-ranked Iranian governmental authorities about country's commitment to protect the cheetahs in Iran, the ICS will announce officially final outcome of two years of cheetah monitoring efforts across multiple reserves which has been carried out in partnership with Iran DoE, Conservation of Asiatic Cheetah Project and Panthera since 2011.

Rewards
Meanwhile, more than 15 outstanding game guards together with a few dedicated herders who did not kill the predators despite serious livestock loss they experienced will be acknowledged in the ceremony which is to be attended by the country's vice president and head of Iran DoE, Dr Masoumeh Ebtekar.

Recent surveys in Iran have revealed that the country's cheetah population has sunk to critical levels and is still in decline. Low reproduction in recent years has also increased concerns among experts about the future of the cheetahs in Iran. Accordingly, in order to spread the word among key partners and also to motivate game guards who are the frontiers in cheetah conservation in the country, the conference has been organized and financial incentives have been provided for selected game guards who have been active in anti-poaching efforts within last year.

The conference will be held in DoE's main conference hall in Tehran.

Asiatic cheetah mortality on the increase
September 2013. The critically endangered Asiatic cheetah is under threat from an increased mortality rate due to human causes in recent years in Iran. According to continuous monitoring surveys conducted by the Iranian Cheetah Society (ICS) and Iran DoE's Conservation of Asiatic Cheetah Project, there has been a recent spike in cheetah mortality.

From 2000 - 2010, when cheetah conservation efforts in Iran were first organized, the mortality rate due to poaching decreased from approximately 2 individuals in the 1990s to less than 1 cheetah each year. 11 cheetahs were killed in road incidents during the 2000s, and 13 other cheetah were killed by humans. In contrast, since 2010, at least 5 cheetahs have been killed by humans in Iran and two more are suspected, indicating 2 to 3 individuals per year are being killed, similar to pre-cheetah conservation efforts in 1990s.

No road deaths
While unlike 2000s no cheetah has been reported to be killed on roads in recent years in Iran; however, increased poaching is very alarming given the critical status of the animal in Iran, the last known population of cheetah outside Africa.

From 2005 - 2010 11 cheetah were killed on different roads. Photo credit Iran Cheetah Society

Weaker conservation measures
Improved anti-poaching efforts within cheetah ranges, wide-spread community-based educational programs and hiring and motivating game guards were the key factors that contributed to reducing poaching incidents of cheetah in Iran during 2000s. However more recently financial limitations for rural communities, weakened conservation measures and a decreased level of support from development-based governmental agencies are driving the cheetahs toward a gloomy future in Iran, highlighting the urgency of enhanced protection within more than 15 cheetahs ranges across the eastern half of Iran.

The ICS has a comprehensive program to train and to equip game guards and also to keep them motivated to carry out their anti-poaching tasks which is essential for the survival of the cheetah and its prey.

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