When security has embarked largely on advancing technology, then why would the animals be deprived of its service? Going innovative with GPS usage, wildlife biologists to better understand the needs of the fastest animal on the planet, — the critically endangered Asiatic cheetahs — have successfully fitted two Asiatic cheetahs with GPS collars in Iran.
This new aid would definitely help in efforts to save this species from extinction. Biologist Hooshang Ziaie, director of the project in Iran said,
These captures herald a new era in conservation in Iran. This is the first time we have successfully deployed these collars in Iran, and the data they provide will enable us to make very specific recommendations for conserving cheetahs for future generations.
The collars will protect this subspecies of cheetah from poaching, which has degradation their habitat caused mainly by grazing livestock leading to a drastic reduce in their numbers. According to estimations made by Iran’s Department of Environment, there are only 60 to 100 cheetahs left.
This attached GPS collars to the cheetahs will allow scientists to track the routes the cheetahs use to travel between protected areas. This project is taken up by the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) of New York and Iran’s Conservation of Asiatic Cheetah Project.
These collars will also help the scientists to study the landscape features, key to the survival of the cheetahs.