In wartime Iran, the Asiatic cheetah – a critically endangered species – faces an uncertain fate
The Asiatic cheetah, a critically endangered species, faces threats due to the ongoing conflict in Iran. While the war has not directly impacted their habitat, the indirect consequences pose significant risks to their survival. Currently, there are at least 27 individuals of this subspecies recorded in Iran, but they remain among the world's most endangered big cats.
- ▪The Asiatic cheetah is classified as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
- ▪The subspecies survives only in the arid regions of northeastern Iran.
- ▪As of early January, there are at least 27 Asiatic cheetahs identified in Iran, up from 17 previously.
- ▪Of the identified cheetahs, 21 are adults and six are cubs, with some in breeding sites and captivity.
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| Original publisher | Le Monde (EN) |
| Canonical URL | https://www.lemonde.fr/en/environment/article/2026/05/18/in-wartime-iran-the-asiatic-cheetah-a-critically-endangered-species-faces-an-uncertain-fate_6753570_114.html |
| Publication time | Mon, 18 May 2026 17:31:04 +0200 |
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A male Asiatic cheetah named Koushki in the Miandasht Nature Reserve, North Khorasan Province, Iran, September 3, 2014. MIDDLE EAST IMAGES/ABACA Will the extremely rare Asiatic cheetah fall victim to the war waged by Israel and the US in Iran? This subspecies, classified as critically endangered – the final stage before extinction in the wild according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature's Red List – survives only in the arid regions of northeastern Iran. As airstrikes have focused on the western half of the country, the two regions where cheetahs live have not been directly hit. However, it is the indirect consequences of the war that pose the greatest threat.
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