Iran’s Veterinary Organization Opposes Indonesian Veterinarian’s Arrival to Care for Third Asiatic Cheetah Cub
Iran’s Veterinary Organization has opposed the presence of an Indonesian veterinarian to care for the only remaining cub of the Asiatic cheetah.
Mohammad Reza Safari, head of Iran’s Veterinary Organization, in a letter to the head of Iran’s Environmental Protection Organization, while requesting documents “proving the professional qualifications of the Indonesian veterinarian in question to provide the necessary services for examination, approval, and issuance of the required permit,” emphasized that “otherwise, the provision of professional veterinary services by him in the matter of consultation, treatment, and veterinary care in the Islamic Republic of Iran is contrary to laws and regulations.”
The Iranian female cheetah, named “Iran,” gave birth to three cubs via cesarean section on May 2nd, and environmental authorities announced that all three cubs were female and healthy.
However, the first cub of “Iran” died on May 14th, three days after birth. At that time, the Environmental Organization announced that the cub had been weak since birth and had not gained weight, and after autopsy, the cause of death was reported to be a congenital abnormality of the left lung and lung adhesion.
Following the death of “Iran’s” first cub, although it had been previously announced that all three cubs born at the Touran breeding center were female, Bahram Ali Zaheri, acting director general of the Semnan Environmental Organization, said that the two remaining cubs are “male.”
After the death of the second cub on May 27th, Hassan Akbari, deputy director of the Environmental Protection Organization, attributed the death of “Iran’s” second cub to the lack of appropriate milk for feeding Asiatic cheetahs in Iran. He also announced: “The third cub has been affected by the milk issue and we hope it will survive.”
The Environmental Organization deputy, while acknowledging only “some of the errors,” said: “As experience is gained, these errors will decrease.”
Despite all this, shortly after, Ali Salajeqeh, head of the Environmental Protection Organization, announced the arrival of an Indonesian veterinarian to care for “Iran’s” third cheetah cub.
Yesterday, Hassan Akbari at a press conference about the chances of survival of the third cheetah cub said: “We don’t know the chances of the third cub’s survival. It is consuming powdered milk, and powdered milk can never replace mother’s milk.” According to the Environmental Organization deputy, the third cheetah cub “Iran’s” condition is “currently acceptable.”
Previously, Iman Memarian, veterinary advisor to the animal rescue organization, had said: “The cheetah cubs were touched without gloves during the cesarean section, and the cubs picking up human scent caused the mother to reject her offspring. The medical team and individuals selected for the cesarean section and care of “Iran’s” cubs have never seen a cheetah before.”
Source: Voice of America
