Asiatic Cheetah

The Asiatic cheetah is a subspecies of cheetah found in the deserts of Iran. It is also known as the Persian cheetah and Iranian cheetah.

The Asiatic cheetah once lived in India, Afghanistan, Arabia, and Pakistan. Today, only small groups of Asiatic cheetahs are found in various Iranian reserves, with occasional sightings in Pakistan. It is estimated that less than 100 cats live in the wild.

Scientific Name: Acinonyx jubalus venaticus
Conservation Status: Critically Endangered. The number of Asiatic cheetah living in the wild is believed to be less than 40.

Subspecies: None

More about the Asiatic Cheetah

Meaning of the name

“Asiatic” means coming from Asia. The word “cheetah” is from the Sanskrit word citrakayah (“citra” meaning displaying different spots streaks, and “kaya” meaning body).

Some Asiatic cheetah facts

• Can only be found in the deserts of Iran.
• Has a smaller head than African cheetahs.
• Has shorter legs than an African cheetah.
• Has a more muscular neck than an African cheetah.
  

History

The Asiatic cheetah is generally believed to have separated from African cheetahs between 32,000 and 67,000 years ago.

More recent research places the separation at 5,000 years ago. At one time, cheetahs were tamed and trained to hunt.

What Asiatic cheetahs look like

The Asiatic cheetah can grow (from head to body) up to 4.5 feet long, with a tail almost 3.5 feet long. Their heads are smaller than African cheetahs. The cat’s fur is tan with black spots. They also have a stripe that runs from the corner of the eyes to the nose and mouth area.

Asiatic cheetah habitat

Asiatic cheetahs prefer open habitats, such as plains and deserts. Most of the remaining cats can be found in five national parks and sanctuaries:

• Touran National Park
• Daranjir Wildlife Reserve
• Naybandan Wildlife Reserve
• Kavir National Park
• Bafq Protected Area

Cheetah males will establish a territory. Females will frequently travel, sometimes for very long distances.

Hunting and food

The Asiatic cheetah primarily preys on gazelle but will also eat wild goats, sheep, cheetahs, and hares.

Reproduction

Cheetah males will seek out female cheetahs for mating at approximately one year of age. The females begin to mate at two years of age. Cheetah males have a low sperm count, resulting in a low number of cheetah births.

The female cheetah gestation period is 90 to 100 days. Female cheetahs can have up to 9 cubs, but most will end up dying due to predators.

The female cheetah will take care of her cubs and travel with them until they reach 1 to 1.5 years of age. After the cheetah mother leaves, the young females will leave alone. The males will stay together or join another group in the case of only one or two males.

Asiatic Cheetah Conservation

Asiatic cheetahs prey on wild goats, sheep and gazelle. Although cheetahs are known to inhabit desert areas and plain, some Iranian cheetahs can be found in more rugged, mountain-like terrain.

The Asiatic cheetah’s near extinction results from hunting, loss of prey, human conflict and loss of habitat.