Asian cheetah

Iran is the last habitat of Asian cheetahs. They used to live in a vast region from Saudi Arabia to India. However, they have been formally called as an extinct spices in all the region except center, east and southeast of Iran (Semnan, Yazd, Bafgh and most probably in Baluchistan). The number of remaining cheetahs ( locally called Youz or Youz-Palang) is estimated to be less than 60. This issue is not only a national concern but also an international one as a rare type of cheetah (leopard) is being extinct without any replacement.

Recently a joint group of Iranian-American researchers started exploring all opportunities to save remaining asian cheetahs in Iran. They use sophisticated pointing tools to detect the remaining cheetahs and establish a rigorous protection plan. It might be interesting to know that the only exception of the US sanctions on exporting sensitive radio and radar equipments is for these pointing tools. The case was too vital to be considered as a political issue influencing by the present US-Iran conflicts.

Here are some additional links on the asian cheetahs, Iranian-American joint research group and other protective measurements on this issue:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/persian/iran/story/2008/08/080805_wmj--asiatic-cheetah.shtml

http://www.iraniancheetah.org/English/EAbout%20Cheetah.htm