“In formulating this program, we have set qualitative indicators for the achievement of its realistic goals,“ said the head of National Project for the Preservation of Asiatic Cheetah, Alireza Jourabchian.

Under the new program, the designated cheetah zones will double from five to ten, and preservation is given top priority, IRNA reported.

“The annual project was sent to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in mid-June and received their approval,“ he said.

The cheetah preservation project was kicked off in 2001 in cooperation with UNDP to prevent the extinction of Asiatic cheetah.

Only 70 to 100 Asiatic--or Iranian--cheetahs are believed to live across Iran.

Typically, the adult Asiatic cheetah has a body length of 112-135 cm (44-53 inches) and weighs 30-55 kg (66-121 lbs). It can reach speeds of up to 100 km/h (62 mph).

In contrast to the African cheetah, which lives in savannahs and open grasslands, the Asiatic cheetah lives in semi-desert hills and mountainous regions of east-central Iran.

However, due to overhunting of their prey--the gazelles--and being chased by high-speed motorcycles, the remaining cheetahs have been forced to higher grounds where they hunt mountain rams and goats in relative safety.