According to KhabarOnline, the story of Helia gained attention when this female cheetah was spotted with her five cubs in the Miandasht region. Subsequently, Helia moved her cubs to various locations within their habitat. About a month ago, two of the cubs separated from Helia and remained in the area. The main concern was whether these two cubs could survive without their mother. However, recent observations indicate that they are now in good physical condition, have grown sufficiently, and have become independent.
During this time, Helia has continued her journey. Approximately a month ago, she approached the Abbasabad-Miami road and then moved northward again. Helia also passed through the “Yozkanam” conservation area in Miandasht and continued on her path. The last sighting of Helia was last week when she was seen with three other cubs. These movements occur as cheetahs require vast and interconnected territories to find prey and suitable habitats, with the corridor between Turan and Miandasht being one of the important movement routes for this species.
Baqer Nazemi, the manager of the Asian Cheetah Conservation Project, commented on the status of Helia and her cubs, stating that the latest behavioral observations suggest Helia is attempting to disperse her cubs to different locations so that the siblings do not encounter each other. He adds that this implies Helia may be taking the cubs to various spots and leaving them there. By doing so, she introduces her cubs to different parts of the habitat and prepares them for independent living. According to Nazemi, we may expect the cubs to gradually separate from their mother over the next month.
The project manager also discussed the two cubs that separated from their mother about a month ago, noting that they have been spotted again and are currently in very good physical condition, having grown sufficiently and become fully independent. He elaborated on Helia’s movement path, explaining that she is within the protected area and approached the Abbasabad-Miami road about a month ago before moving north again. The last sighting of Helia was last week, when she was observed with three cubs on the outskirts of the Turan region.
However, the path of Helia and her cubs is not without danger. The Abbasabad-Miami road, known as the “Cheetah Death Road,” poses one of the most significant threats to the moving cheetahs. While part of this road has been fenced, and measures such as lighting and speed restrictions have been implemented, completing the fencing along the entire route remains a challenge due to its length and high costs. This issue is particularly crucial for Helia’s cubs as they will soon need to start their independent lives and will inevitably have to traverse various habitats in search of prey and territory. Furthermore, experiences from southern Turan have shown that habitat security alone is insufficient. Three years ago, when the prey population in southern Turan had nearly vanished, 47 heads of wild sheep were released in the area. Following this, cheetah tracks were observed, and a photo of one cheetah was taken, indicating that prey restoration could facilitate the return of cheetahs to their habitat.
Now, two of Helia’s cubs have successfully passed the first stage of independence, while the other three are still seen alongside their mother. Although this development alone does not signify the salvation of the Iranian cheetah, the survival of each cub is of great importance for the limited population of this species. The fate of Helia and her five cubs is ultimately tied to the same chain that the survival of the Iranian cheetah depends on: secure habitats, continuous movement corridors, adequate prey, and safe roads. Helia is gradually preparing her cubs for independent life; two cubs have begun their journey, while the other three remain with their mother. Whether these five cubs can become the next generation of cheetahs in Iran depends on the safety of the path that Helia is currently showing them.
