Iran Cheetah death: What happened to 10-month-old endangered Asiatic cheetah?

Pirouz, 10 months old, had been the only survivor of his litter of three endangered Asiatic cheetahs.

Updated
Iran-Cheetah-Death Iran-Cheetah-Death-Reason Iran-Cheetah-Pirouz

Not all is well in Iran as the country's only Asiatic cheetah cub on Tuesday died despite days of treatment for kidney failure. Iran Cheetah cub death has been breaking the internet as it was an endangered species in the country. Pirouz, 10 months old, had been the only survivor of his litter of three endangered Asiatic cheetahs. He was the subject of widespread discussion online. The semiofficial Tasnim News Agency reported Tuesday that days of treatment had failed to save him.

“I apologize on behalf of the team since we failed to save his life,” the agency quoted Omid Moradi, the head of Tehran’s central vet hospital was quoted by AlArabia. For the unversed, Pirouz and his littermates were the first Asiatic cheetahs born in captivity in Iran. They were born in the Touran wildlife refuge in Semnan province under close monitoring by Iran’s environmental agency. Iran has long tried to save Asiatic cheetah, one of the world’s critically endangered species. The United Nations is helping the government step up efforts to rescue the species.

To be precise, the Asiatic cheetah, an equally fast cousin of the African cat, once ranged from the Red Sea to India. Its numbers have dwindled over the past century to an estimated 50 to 70 animals remaining in Iran. That’s down from as many as 400 in the 1990s. Its numbers plummeted due to poaching, hunting its main prey — gazelles — and encroachment on its habitat.

Social media erupts after Iran's cheetah cub death

A user wrote, "Not only is the IRI responsible for murdering human children, but they are also responsible for murdering critically endangered animals. #Pirouz has passed away The vet hospital couldn't provide proper care. He was the last remaining Asiatic cheetah in Iran."

"#pirouz was an endangered cheetah which became the symbol of freedom for Iranians. The Islamic regime in Iran has been funding terrorism for decades sending billions of dollars to their proxies but they denied any help and support to keep this beautiful animal," wrote another user.

Iranian schoolgirls poisoned: Deputy Education Minister calls serial-poisoning 'intentional', Here's why

Another user wrote, "Poisoned schoolchildren, now a poisoned cheetah. Iran’s #Pirouz - One of the last remaining Asiatic cheetah’s in the world needs specialist care that the Islamic regime is not providing."

Trending