Asiatic Cheetah

This is Marita. She was saved as a cub after her mother was killed by livestock herders.

We are sorry to say that the beloved Marita has passed on at 11pm on December 23, 2003, of respiratory failure. She had two veterinarians and Hormoz Asadi with her. On a good note, she lived a full 9-1/2 years, which is a reasonably full lifespan in captivity. There is no longer a captive Asiatic cheetah, however, wild cheetahs have been spotted in Iran and are currently being studied.

The following text is being left online for archival reasons in relation to Marita's needs when Hormoz asked WAC for help.

WAC received a plea from Hormoz Asadi (click here to email him) in Iran. He has been studying the only captive Asiatic Cheetah there named Marita. She's a six year old female and had become sick. We immediately sent some of the funding that he requested for medication and vaccinations, sent him a cheetah husbandry manual from Africa, and are helping him with treatment advice. WAC just completed raising another $1000 USD to complete her new larger enclosure.

There are an unknown number (less than 50 in Iran, less that a few hundred Asiatic Cheetah total). Here is his original plea to us at WAC:

However, the five year old female Asiatic cheetah is our concern at present. She is living in an unsuitable environment. I had the opportunity to observe her behaviors. I tried to stimulate her instinct to learn to hunt live prey(rabbits for now), and improve her timing and hunting techniques. I have documented her hunting, feeding, sexual, and anti-predatory behaviors, as well as collected biological samples.

It is really a fortunate for us to have her, because with the present situation there is no chance of observing any cheetah in Iran. Our captive female might be the only Asiatic cheetah in next two to three years, and we must keep her alive and healthy.

She is heavily infested with internal parasites (Toxocare cati and Toxocare canis), and losing weight from lack of appetite. The intensive management required to ensure the cheetah's survival in captivity will involve manipulating the environment to enhance living conditions as well as applying precise formula and techniques to the animal's feeding, health, and hygiene. I have recommended that the animal be transferred to a clean, wide and plain landscaped area within the same park, as she needs to exercise. We will use your funding to secure and prepare this new place. I have the support of Dept. of Environment, Government of Iran, veterinary college of Tehran University, and the society for care and protection of animals for her compound, medical care, and anesthesia.

We need to know about the recommended tranqulizer drugs you using for cheetahs, because specific drugs for wild animals are not available here. We also need to know about management, feeding, and care requirements and procedures for captive cheetah. I would like your advice and request necessary drugs and materials for post transolcation.

I will let you know the result of our efforts and our expenditures.

Best Wishes,

Hormoz Asadi

Photos

Here is a photo of Marita eating a rabbit.

Here is another photo of her in her first enclosure.

Here is Marita with a meal.

Here is her new LARGE area under construction--note den area.

Here is her new area's tall fence line.

Here is her new area's pool.

Here is Marita, very healthy looking after treatment, awaiting transfer to her new area.

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