How a Mistake Led Me to Save the Asiatic Cheetah
The Journey I Never Planned
This is the story of a journey filled with challenges, hope, and relentless efforts to save the world's rarest big cat.
Years ago, when I first heard about the Asiatic cheetah, I had no idea how challenging and life-changing the path ahead would be. At that time, I was just a nature enthusiast with a simple dream—to contribute to wildlife conservation. But in a country burdened by sanctions, economic restrictions, and a lack of environmental prioritization, saving a species on the brink of extinction seemed almost impossible.
Here, I want to share my story: how, without international support and with minimal resources, we managed to keep hope alive and fight for the survival of the last remaining Asiatic cheetahs. From devastating setbacks to small victories that kept us going, this journey has been anything but ordinary.
Why Here, Why Now?
Years of working in the field, collaborating with local communities, navigating bureaucratic hurdles, and striving to protect wildlife have taught me invaluable lessons. Now that political and security conditions in Iran prevent me from continuing my fieldwork, I’ve decided to document and share these experiences. Not just to preserve this story but to inspire those who want to fight for nature, even under the most difficult circumstances.
What Can You Expect Here?
Personal stories from the journey of Asiatic cheetah conservation: moments of hope, moments when all seemed lost.
The challenges we faced: from financial struggles to governmental policies that made our work even harder.
The role of local communities and rangers in this battle: the true frontline defenders of nature.
Lessons learned from this experience: insights for anyone passionate about conservation or looking to build something from scratch under challenging conditions.
How It All Began
I had no idea about conservation or wildlife protection when I took the Iranian national university entrance exam. Like many students, my goal was to get into a public university and make my family proud. Back then, after receiving our rankings, we had to pick up a printed booklet from the local post office, which contained the codes for various university programs. We had to carefully fill out and submit our choices, hoping to secure a spot in a university based on our ranking.
My ranking was 13,000—not great at all. I remember how the selection booklet was printed in a dull blue. I read it so many times that I developed temporary color blindness; the blue pages started looking brown to me. After carefully filling out my choices, I mailed the form, unaware of what lay ahead.
When the results were announced, I saw that I had been admitted to the Environmental Studies program! I had no idea what that was. It turned out I had mistakenly written the wrong code and unintentionally ended up in this field. In Iran, male students who get accepted into public universities must enroll immediately; otherwise, they risk losing their chance to study for years and are required to serve in the military instead. I had no choice but to register. I tried everything to change my major, but nothing worked.
And so, I found myself at Iran's Department of Environment University, completely unaware that this unexpected turn of events would change my life forever…
Join the Journey
I plan to publish a new post every week. If you’re interested in this journey and want to learn more from my experiences, subscribe to this newsletter and follow along. If you find these stories meaningful, share them with others to help amplify the voice of the Asiatic cheetah and its struggle for survival.
I look forward to hearing your thoughts and suggestions!