Cheetah Directory

[Acinonyx sp.]

Name: Marita
Gender: Female
Date of Birth: Somewhere around 1993-1994
Status: Deceased
Subspecies: Acinonyx Jubatus Venaticus
Location: Tehran  Pardisan Zoo, previously City of Bafq (wild)

A family of was seized by fearful people, one cub was; the mother escaped and ran way. This cub is Marita. Marita was rescued and was sent to Tehran Zoo. Marita inspired Mohammad Farhadinia and ICS (Iranian Cheetah Society) to research and conserve asiatic cheetahs.

"The idea for studying on the cheetahs came about in fall 1996 when I met Marita, a young female Iranian

cheetah in Pardisan Zoo, Tehran, for the first time. She was rescued from a tragedy in the city of Bafq in
which her young sisters were killed due to unawareness by local people. At that time, the cheetah was one of
the least known species of Iran and almost, there was no data about it in the country, which encouraged me
to abandon medical sciences after 3 years and switching to study wildlife sciences at the university. I would
like to dedicate this work to that cheetah, Marita."
-Mohammad Farhadinia

"These events encouraged us to do something for Marita’s hometown since ICS establishment in 2001. Therefore, we started educational programs in 2002 until 2009. During this period, Marita always inspired our efforts; so, we would like to dedicate this work to that cheetah, Marita."
-Iranian Cheetah Society

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