Iran’s Department of the Environment, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Global Environment Facility (GEF) have decided to continue the Conservation of the Asiatic Cheetah Project (CACP) for more three years. United Nations Development Programme has donated $25,000 to keep the project going and urged Iranian officials to increase their efforts in this subject.
Sam Khosravifard, conservation biologist and environmental journalist, says Iran’s Department of the Environment has allocated a certain budget to this project. “Actually the recent donation made by United Nation is something to encourage Iranians to concentrate on this project. Department of the Environment has set an additional budget for this project to preserve and rehabilitate the remaining areas of cheetah habitat left in Iran.”
“Iran has recently changed the manager of this project. The new supervisor is a young director who has a great connections and information in this field. Hooman Jokar will be able to take this project to next level, according to his past achievements.” Sam Khosravifard added.
The Asiatic cheetah, also known as the Iranian cheetah, is the world’s last few are known to survive mostly in Iran. Although recently presumed to be extinct in India, it is also known as the Indian cheetah. Iranian Cheetah Society (ICS) has launched more projects to preserve the Iranian cheetah during the last months.