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Miandasht Herders Say: The Cheetah is NOT an Enemy to Our Livestock!!!

May 2005- Recent interview surveys with herders and shepherds in Miandasht revealed that the cheetah is not considered an enemy to their livestock.

More than 40 herders from whole of the area participated in this survey believed that the wolf is the the main threat to their ownership, but they had never encountered or heard about a cheetah attack on domestic sheep, except an old shepherd who had sighted a cheetah killing a domestic sheep more than 10 years ago. Most of them had never encountered any cheetah in the area, but they had heard about the cheetah from the game guards. A TV movie made in co-operation with the Iranian Cheetah Society (ICS) in spring 2004 has had a great impact on the local people's attitude toward Miandasht and its cheetah.

Miandasht Wildlife Refuge is annually occupied by more than 15000 heads of livestock since early winter toward early spring which is the highest risk period for the cheetahs. Accordingly, ICS conducted an interview survey to identify and evaluate the possible cheetah-human conflicts. Then, the staffs tried to increase the people's awareness about the cheetah and the area's relevant conservational issues. A main target was to educate herders that they could have a better pasture for their next year grazing season if they leave the area just in early spring. It would provide the area an opportunity to grow and feed the gazelles for the cheetah.  The result was incredible: according to the local authorities, illegal spring grazing in 2005 has had a remarkable decrease in comparison with spring 2004!!!