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Hormoz Asadi
"I give my pledge to defend and save all of the natural resources of my country; its soil and minerals, its forests, water and wildlife," Hormoz Asadi, formed Asiatic Cheetah Conservation Project, which became the CACP. Despite these accomplishments, he humbly referred to himself as " just a laborer for wildlife."
The Asiatic Cheetah Conservation Project
Hormoz Asadi founded first Iranian-international efforts for Asiatic cheetah conservation. It inspired more organizations to form, mentored young conservationists, sparked international awareness and interest, and motivated the Iranian Department of the Environment to focus more the Asiatic cheetahs.
Hormoz Asadi (1948-2008) formed the Asiatic Cheetah Conservation Project, with the support of the International Union for Conservation of Nature, IUCN and UNDP (Asadi, 1997). He was a wildlife conservationist and IUCN Cat Specialist group member, who decided something needed to be done about the critically endangered Asiatic subspecies. After working on India's tiger and leopard conservation with Wildlife Trust of India, Wildlife Protection Society of India, WWF, TRAFFIC and others, he returned to Iran in 1995, and developed a project that morphed into the Conservation of the Asiatic Cheetah Project, CACP. In 2006, the Iranian Department of the Environment appointed him their official advisor for wildlife in Iran. Today, their new textbook, the Environment of Iran, is dedicated with a forward to Hormoz Asadi. In addition to saving animals, what he really loved was inspiring new wildlife conservationists at Tehran Azad University, in Iran. In this photo, he stands next to his Landcruiser, that had the image of Marita's face as the emblem for the Asiatic Cheetah Conservation Project. His passion for wildlife conservation lives on through his former students, colleagues, and this organization, Asiatic Cheetah Trust.
Continuing Conservation Efforts
Lobat Asadi
Cheetahs are in particular crisis because they are extremely endangered animals that fall between the cracks of political, social, economic, as well as great reproductive barriers. Asiatic cheetahs need the support of interdisciplinary people and organizations, globally concerned individuals, artists, academics and wildlife enthusiasts, to collaborate and conceive of new ways to reach audiences. My father, Hormoz Asadi, was a wildlife conservationist, and an incredible risk-taker who became a well-known, award-winning, Cat Specialist. To some, he was a man who rescued Asiatic cheetahs, seals, deer, and supported wildlife education and work in Iran, which inspired all wildlife conservation in Iran. To others, he was an innovative and incredible man, who arrested poachers of tiger and leopard skins, in India. I am a PhD in Curriculum & Instruction, and a writer and musician, but most importantly, I remain my father’s lifelong student. I strive to continue my father's work with Asiatic cheetah conservation. You can read more on my blog, Big Cat Tales.