Managing Director of the Project to Protect Asiatic Cheetah in Iran Hooman Jokar said on Sunday Iran’s football team will take to the field at the friendly match with Japan on Tuesday while sporting on its jerseys an image of the Asiatic cheetah emblazoned across the front.
He added that such a measure will help raise awareness among people as sports activities today serve as a good medium for delivering such environmental concepts to people.
“Using Asiatic Cheetah image on the team jersey at World Cup competition in Brazil in 2014 had a positive feedback from public opinion and since then the image has remained on the jerseys of the Iran national football team,” he said.
He added that this will give them an opportunity to introduce this beautiful species as the symbol of Iran national football team to Japanese people.
According to Jokar, the last few surviving Asiatic cheetahs are officially protected by the country’s government mostly in Kavir National Park, Touran National Park, Bafq Protected Area, Daranjir Wildlife Reserve, and Naybandan Wildlife Reserve. Currently, Iran is home to 50 sighted Asiatic Cheetahs.
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