Field sites

Two habitats that decide the Asiatic cheetah’s future

Turan is the primary habitat for Asiatic cheetahs in Iran and the world. Miandasht is a refuge that rangers protected through years without cheetahs — until they returned.

Primary cheetah habitatShahrud County, Semnan Province

Touran Biosphere Reserve

Area: 1.4 million ha
Protected zones: 3 (park, area, refuge)
With Sarvin since: 2020

Our team’s involvement in the Turan Biosphere Reserve dates back to 2020. Located in the eastern part of Semnan Province, in Shahrud County, this reserve borders Khorasan Razavi Province and is currently the primary habitat for Asiatic cheetahs in Iran and the world. Turan is a critical area where cheetahs reproduce annually, and young, independent cheetahs from this habitat migrate to other regions, establishing new populations.

The reserve encompasses three distinct protected zones: a national park, a protected area, and a wildlife refuge, covering an expansive area of 1.4 million hectares. This vast size makes conservation efforts extremely challenging, requiring special attention from Iran’s Department of Environment and other conservationists.

Due to the significance of this habitat, a comprehensive monitoring survey of the Asiatic cheetah population was conducted in 2021 by the Sarvin team members (then working under the Iranian Cheetah Society). These efforts continued until 2023, and two of our conservation rangers are currently stationed in this crucial area, actively working to protect it.

The Turan Biosphere Reserve remains one of the central focus areas for Sarvin Wildlife Conservation. Beyond continuing our previous activities, we are planning new projects aimed at habitat restoration and enhancing the reserve’s ecological health.

Recovering habitatJajarm County, North Khorasan Province

Miandasht Wildlife Refuge

Area: 84,000 ha
Cheetah families at peak: 2 at once
Connection since: Early 2010s

The Sarvin Wildlife Conservation team’s connection to Miandasht Wildlife Refuge dates back to the early 2010s, during our time with the Iranian Cheetah Society. Located in Jajarm County, North Khorasan Province, this 84,000-hectare refuge has historically been one of the primary habitats for Asiatic cheetahs. At its peak, the refuge supported two cheetah families simultaneously, a remarkable number given the small size of the area, highlighting the habitat’s suitability.

Unfortunately, the last recorded cheetah in Miandasht was lost to a road accident in 2018, leaving the area without cheetahs until this year, when they finally made a return. Despite the absence of cheetahs in recent years, the dedication of local rangers never wavered. They continued their rigorous protection efforts as if cheetahs were still present. Thanks to their commitment, the population of gazelles—cheetahs’ primary prey—has multiplied several times over. Moreover, through effective habitat management, they resolved the region’s critical issue of water scarcity for wildlife.

Our team has never abandoned Miandasht, believing in its potential to once again become a thriving habitat for cheetah families and a site for future reproduction. Miandasht will remain one of our key areas of focus as we continue our conservation efforts, working toward a brighter future for the Asiatic cheetah.

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