One of Less Than 50 Remaining Asiatic Cheetah’s Saved From Wildlife Smugglers In Iran

Financial Tribune

An Asiatic cheetah cub discovered this week after the arrest of an animal-trafficking band in Tehran, has been moved to the wildlife rehabilitation center of Pardisan Park.

According to Iran’s Department of Environment twitter account, the young cheetah, now named Iran, was found on Monday and immediately taken in for protection.

“So far three offenders involved in the smuggling have been arrested and a fourth suspect is wanted by police,” Naqi Mirzakarimi, head of the protection unit at the Department of Environment noted in the Financial Tribune, further explaining that the perpetrators have been referred to judicial authorities and the details of the case will be released once the investigations are complete.

The eight-month-old cub had been in captivity for a minimum of three months and was suffering from malnutrition when she was found.

Tehran Times

As per Iman Memarian, the veterinarian at the research center, the cub who was spared any serious physical injuries, is expected to gradually recover from stress and weakness she endured prior to her rescue.

Cheetah cubs usually spend 18 months with their mother before they are competent enough to live independently in the wild.

Because Iran was captured at such a young age, she does not possess the know-how necessary to live in her natural habitat. Fortunately, though, she will now safely remain at the park along with other Asiatic cheetahs.

The Asiatic cheetah, Acinonyx jubatus venaticus, is slightly smaller and paler than the African subspecies. It has a fawn-colored coat with black spots on its head and neck, and distinctive black marks running from the corner of each eye.

Tragically, conservationists have warned that with less than 50 Asiatic cheetahs remaining in the wild, all located in Iran, these critically-endangered animals are on the brink of extinction.