Protecting a species on the brink of extinction—fewer than 20 remain in the wild—comes with unique challenges. Achievements are rare, and discouragement often looms large. Striking a balance in such conditions is tough. You must cherish the small victories while ensuring setbacks don’t stop you.
Today, I want to share one of those small yet extraordinary victories that renewed our energy and gave us hope!
Six years ago, tragedy struck in one of the two areas home to the last remaining Asiatic cheetahs. Our last known cheetah in that region was killed in a road accident. The loss was devastating, leaving us deeply worried about the future. Still, we persevered. Year after year, we set up camera traps with the hope of spotting a cheetah, only to leave with nothing.
We trained rangers, scouted the surrounding areas, engaged local communities, and worked alongside them.
The head of the park once said: “We protect this area as if cheetahs are still here.” And with diligent conservation efforts, the gazelle population quadrupled in just six years!
This park director was experienced, passionate, and deeply committed. Together, we implemented a comprehensive conservation strategy. We tackled climate change impacts, restored vegetation, enhanced prey availability, and secured water for wildlife. Rangers and the park director were on the frontlines of this six-year endeavor, while we and our sponsors supported them by providing resources, training, and motivation—often when we were struggling to stay hopeful ourselves.
Last year, at the National Cheetah Day event, I told them: “Everything here is ready for the cheetahs to return. Stay hopeful and stay prepared.”
And then, just days before this year’s International Cheetah Day, at a moment when we were teetering on the edge of despair, I woke up to a message from the park director:
“This morning, we captured photos of a cheetah mother and her two cubs in Miandasht!”
What a Morning!
The collective efforts of countless individuals had finally borne fruit. For the first time in the history of Asiatic cheetah conservation in Iran, cheetahs had returned naturally to a region where they had once vanished. And we celebrated this monumental achievement.
Conservation means persistence, resilience, and unwavering effort. In Miandasht, we gave it everything we had—and it was worth it. 🌱🧡
