Rare birth of three 'healthy' Asiatic cheetah cubs in Iran
May 2, 2022, 4:41 pm

Rare birth of three 'healthy' Asiatic cheetah cubs in Iran

This is the first birth of an Asiatic cheetah in captivity (Photo: Pixabay)

The Alarabiya English reported, Iranian head of the environment department said Sunday (May 1), an Asiatic cheetah gave birth to three “healthy” cubs in Iran, calling it a first in captivity for the endangered species.

Ali Salajegheh told IRNA news agency: “Iran,” one of only a dozen cheetahs found in the Islamic republic, delivered three “healthy” cubs by C-section.

He said: “This is the first birth of an Asiatic cheetah in captivity."

Salajegheh added: “By preserving these cubs, we can increase the cheetah population in captivity and then in semi-captivity."

The world’s fastest land animal, capable of reaching speeds of 120 kilometers (74 miles) per hour, cheetahs once stalked habitats from the eastern reaches of India to the Atlantic coast of Senegal and beyond.

Cheetah mother with two cubs (Photo: Pixabay)

They are still found in parts of southern Africa, but have practically disappeared from North Africa and Asia.

Iran is one of the last countries in the world where the Asiatic cheetahs live in the wild and began a United Nations-supported protection program in 2001.

Lions, tigers and bears rescued from Kyiv animal shelter amid Russian invasion

According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, the subspecies “Acinonyx jubatus venaticus”, commonly known as the Asiatic cheetah, is critically endangered.

In January deputy environment minister Hassan Akbari said Iran is home to only a dozen Asiatic cheetahs -- down from an estimated 100 in 2010.

US Study says a mass marine life extinction could happen if warming continues

Their situation “is extremely critical,” Akbari said at the time, adding that the animals have been victims of drought, hunters and car accidents.

Source: alarabiyaenglish

Ethiopian Muslims celebrate Eid al-Fitr amid religious tensions African scientists say green future in the continent at stake amid deforestation

BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”