For the love of Asiatic cheetah
Reduce Your Speed
The vast, rugged landscapes of central Iran has been the stage for a heartbreaking phenomenon for the past couple of decades – the untimely death of Asiatic cheetahs, one of the world’s most endangered big cats, in road accidents.
There have been many instances in which these magnificent creatures’ live were cut short due to accidents; some as recently as the last spring, when Majrad, a pregnant cheetah ready to give birth to its three cubs, died in a car accident.
Iran, as a last stronghold for this subspecies, must do more to ensure its survival. Fortunately, in order to protect the Iranian cheetah, a decision has been made to reduce the allowed speed of cars on the Abbasabad-Meyami route by 30 km, according to Mehr News Agency.
The Director General of the Office of Wildlife Protection and Management announced that following Saturday’s meeting of the country’s Road Safety Commission, it was agreed to lower the permitted speed from 110 km/h to 80 km/h in order to safeguard this endangered species.
Gholamreza Abdali, speaking about the meeting held by the Road Safety Commission to ensure wildlife protection, stated that its purpose was to enhance road safety on the Abbasabad-Meyami route. Officials from various organizations including the Ministry of Roads and the Department of the Environment were present at the meeting.
Abdali further mentioned that as per the approval during the meeting, reducing car speeds from 110 km/h to 80 km/h will minimize risks posed to wildlife in this region, especially cheetahs. In addition to speed reduction measures, other necessary actions such as fencing installation, improved lighting systems along with increased signage and CCTV cameras are responsibilities assigned to be carried out by the Ministry of Roads. Programs related to these measures will be prioritized accordingly.
The Abbasabad-Meyami road located in Semnan Province serves as one of Tehran-Mashhad road’s transportation axes, traversing through Turan wildlife reserve’s northern border. Research studies indicate that road accidents are major contributors leading towards loss in population for valuable Iranian cheetah species.
Cheetah fatalities resulting from collisions with vehicles represent devastating losses for Iran’s biodiversity. Hopefully, the new speed limit might help mitigate the alarming phenomenon. Yet, more should be done in terms of infrastructure planning amidst sensitive ecological zones. Wildlife corridors play an important role in preserving genetic diversity, while allowing animals like the Asiatic cheetah to move freely between habitats. This, in turn, reduces the risk of genetic isolation and promoting population growth.