According to KhabarOnline, Saeed Youssefpour, the Director General of the Environmental Protection Agency of Semnan Province, announced in an interview with Mehr that Helia was spotted with three cubs, while two other cubs remain unobserved and their status is uncertain. He noted that recent monitoring in the area over the past two weeks revealed that Helia, along with the three cubs, was seen moving south towards the Turan region, but subsequently returned north and continues to be recorded in the area with the same three cubs.
The uncertain fate of the two other cubs was also addressed by the Director General, who mentioned that various possibilities have been proposed regarding their situation. It is possible that they have separated from their mother and are living independently in the wild; however, there is still no definitive conclusion on this matter, and monitoring efforts are ongoing.
Regarding the status of the Asiatic cheetah, he emphasized that this species is one of the most critically endangered in the country and one of the most significant felids in the world, with its distribution observed across four provinces, including Semnan, North Khorasan, and Razavi Khorasan. Protecting this species requires special and continuous planning.
He identified several major threats to the cheetah’s habitat, including drought, excessive livestock grazing, the presence of guard dogs, cub trafficking, and a decrease in prey availability. He added that alongside these factors, habitat destruction by camels and a lack of water resources have further complicated the survival of this species, with camel presence being the most significant threat in the habitat.
Protective measures and community involvement were also discussed. He stated that actions such as raising awareness among local communities, strengthening public participation, managing grazing, purchasing grazing permits, and developing sustainable tourism in certain areas have been implemented; however, there remains a need to enhance these efforts.
On the topic of road safety for cheetahs, the Director General highlighted the high mortality rate of cheetahs on the Abbasabad route. He noted that various measures have been taken over the past years, including speed restrictions, the installation of lighting, and partial fencing, but these actions are not comprehensive, and the risk of cheetahs colliding with vehicles persists.
He also referred to the Asiatic cheetah breeding center in Turan, where six cheetahs (one male and five females) are being kept. Efforts are underway to standardize and expand the holding space to create better conditions for breeding.
233236
