Roads threaten Asiatic cheetahs in Iran

Curr Biol. 2018 Oct 8;28(19):R1141-R1142. doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2018.09.005.

Abstract

Wildlife-vehicle collisions are an important cause of mortality for many animal species. They also prove extremely detrimental to the critically endangered Asiatic cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus venaticus) [1,2]. One to two Asiatic cheetahs are killed by vehicles on Iran's roads annually [3,4]. As such, the Asiatic cheetah could be the next charismatic felid subspecies to go extinct in the near future [5]. We identified one statistically-significant cluster of cheetah-vehicle collisions on the Shahroud-Sabzevar Highway (SSH), in Semnan Province. Because of the extremely small population of cheetahs and the corresponding difficulty of finding statistically-significant clusters, we propose that every single cheetah-vehicle collision should be considered important. We further recommend that wildlife underpasses and associated fencing be constructed in areas of previous cheetah-vehicle collisions.

Publication types

  • Letter

MeSH terms

  • Accidents, Traffic / trends*
  • Acinonyx / injuries*
  • Animals
  • Animals, Wild
  • Conservation of Natural Resources / methods*
  • Humans
  • Iran
  • Motor Vehicles