Amid War in Iran, the World's Rarest Big Cat Is Running Out of Time

By Kaitlin Murray 

In the face of conflict, road accidents, and other threats, scientists are working to pull the Asiatic cheetah back from the brink of extinction.

Asiatic cheetah. Erfan Kouchari. CC BY 4.0. 

In February 2026, nine days before the United States and Israel launched strikes against Iran, rangers filmed a female cheetah with five cubs in the North Khorasan province, the largest litter ever recorded for the subspecies. This comes at a time when fewer than 30 Asiatic cheetahs are believed to be left in the wild. While the subspecies once roamed vast distances spanning the Arabian Peninsula, the Middle East, and Central Asia, today they are only spotted in the rugged deserts of Iran. Given the uncertainty of the ongoing war and the Asiatic cheetah’s classification as critically endangered, it is more important than ever to ensure their future is protected. 

While a cousin of the African cheetah, the subspecies is visibly different, with smaller heads, shorter legs, thicker coats, and a more powerful neck. It is believed they diverged from the African cheetah between 32,000 and 67,000 years ago, adapting to the different terrain of the Asian continent over time. The Asiatic cheetah was known throughout history, with the Mughal emperors keeping them for hunting and Emperor Akbar reportedly keeping over 1,000 during his lifetime. 

Throughout the 20th century, the cheetah began disappearing. By the 1940s, it had gone extinct in 13 countries, including Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan, Iraq, and India. Pakistan’s final sighting was in 1997. What remains of the species now roam the desert regions of Yazd, Semnan, Kerman and Isfahan in Iran, which is only 16% of its original territory. While the country granted the species protected status in 1959, the Islamic Revolution and the Iran-Iraq War halted conservation efforts for decades. Today, the global population stands at 27 individuals that have been ID-carded, plus five in breeding sites and six more in captivity.

Asiatic cheetah lives in rugged terrain. Mousa Mazinanian. CC BY 4.0. 

Current Threats to Conservation

Long before the first bombs were dropped in February 2026, the Asiatic cheetah was already fighting for its survival. The number in 2026 had recovered from only 20 individuals recorded in August 2025 and from 12 at its lowest point in 2022. Every new cub recorded is a victory, given the numerous threats they face, including poaching, human-wildlife conflict, habitat fragmentation, low genetic diversity, and road accidents, all of which threaten their livelihoods.

Of all these obstacles, road accidents are the deadliest. The story of beloved Helia, the female with the cubs who made history in January 2026, illustrates the danger of road accidents. In 2024, she was spotted with two cubs in the Miandasht Wildlife Refuge after traveling more than 130 kilometers from the Turan reserve. Tragically, one of her cubs was struck and killed by a vehicle on the “Death Road” that cuts through the Semnan province. For a week after her cub's death, she stayed near the road, with volunteers on guard to block traffic in case they tried to cross again. 

The ongoing war adds another layer to an already volatile crisis. While the cheetah was given a protected status and national parks were established, the Islamic Revolution in 1979 and the subsequent Iran-Iraq War set back conservation work by decades. Recently, conservationists have been the target of questioning and even arrests by the Iranian government. 

One of the most notable organizations focused on protecting the cheetah is the Persian Wildlife Heritage Foundation, which had previous partnerships with the UN and international NGOs. The Tehran-based group used camera traps to monitor wildlife, including the Persian leopard, the Asiatic cheetah and the Asiatic black bear. Camera traps monitor wildlife without human presence and are widely used around the globe. However, in Iran, the usage was enough for nine members of the organization to be arrested for espionage in 2018. 

One member, Kavous Seyed-Emami, an Iranian-Canadian scientist and the foundation’s founder, died after two weeks in Evin Prison under “suspicious circumstances.” Though his death was ruled a suicide, his family tried to launch an investigation. Thankfully, the other seven members were freed in April 2024, more than six years after their arrest. This sent a chill throughout the international conservation community, as foreign investments and international organizations were hesitant to work in Iran again. 

While camera traps are a great start for tracking cheetah movements, experts have cited that GPS collars could be an important tool in the future. They have been used before to study Persian leopards and, according to recently published research, could “provide essential insights into habitat use, movements and survival, enabling more effective conservation strategies.”

For Iranians, the cheetah is more than just an endangered animal; it is a source of national pride and cultural identity. When Iran’s national football team took to the pitch at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, the cheetah was printed on their kit. Meraj Airlines painted the animal across their planes. 

Looking Toward the Future

Amid the ongoing war, sanctions from Western nations and sporadic internet shutdowns, conservationists in Iran are concerned about the fate of the species. When will the conflict end? What is the current state of the cheetahs in inaccessible regions? How will new funding be accessed? These are all questions that conservationists and scientists around the world continue to ask themselves in the face of such an uncertain future. 

Jamshid Parchizadeh, a research scientist, when asked by Mongabay about the future of the war, stated, “Before the war, cheetah conservation received limited funding from the government. But after the war, I doubt that the government has any money left for the conservation of the cheetah.” 

GET INVOLVED: 

Getting involved in protecting the cheetah in Iran can be complicated, especially with the ongoing conflict. The Cheetah Conservation Fund has permits to work in Iran that allow for close partnerships with groups on the ground. Visit their site to learn more about how you can help their cause to protect cheetahs around the world. 

Other ways to get involved include learning about the Asiatic cheetah and raising awareness. You can help by sharing the cheetah's story online and spreading awareness of its protection. For updates and news on the status of the cheetah, visit Mongabay, an independent news platform focused on global and environmental challenges. The Felidae Fund also provides information and steps to raise awareness through social media platforms and community work.

Kaitlin Murray

Kaitlin Siena Murray is a travel journalist and global storyteller documenting cultures, historical places, and the people and social impact movements helping the world. Raised worldschooling across more than 129 countries with degrees in anthropology and history, her writing is driven by a commitment to global citizenship, capturing the diversity and beauty of the world through the lens of culture, history, and social change.

Albanian Backlash Threatens Trump-Linked Luxury Resort

By Jeremy Gordon

Jared Kushner’s luxury development project sparks massive backlash from citizens and environmentalists.

Dalmatian pelican in Albania. Kostiantyn Klymovets. Pexels.

The first week of June saw tensions flare in Albania over the construction of a new luxury resort in one of the country’s most biodiverse regions. The project, backed by Donald Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, is set to wreak havoc on the local environment and spark affordability issues for locals. Protests have spread from the barbed-wire barricades surrounding the site to the capital of Tirana, where thousands have taken to the streets carrying flamingo-shaped signs and chanting their discontent. 

The region in question is Vjosa-Narta. It is where the Vjosa River, which arises in the Pindus Mountains of northwestern Greece and stretches over 270 kilometers, empties into the Adriatic Sea. The wetland surrounding this Adriatic delta is one of the most ecologically vital habitats in Europe, home to over 200 bird species, including flamingos and Dalmatian pelicans, and over 70 endangered species, including the Mediterranean monk seal and loggerhead sea turtle. It is part of the Adriatic Flyway, a major migration corridor for millions of birds that fly between Africa and Europe each year.

The $1.2 billion development project threatens to ravage the natural habitat, destroy ancient dunes protected under Albanian law and cut off tidal exchange between the Narta Lagoon and the Adriatic, plunging the marine food chain into chaos. Concrete and barbed-wire barriers have been erected, blocking locals from entering parts of the lagoon and beach. Over 40 environmental groups called for cessation of the project in January, though those calls were ignored by the Albanian government, which has amended its laws and permitting processes to pave the way for the project. Critics have decried the lack of transparency and potential corruption surrounding the decision. Prime Minister Edi Rama has stood firm in support of the project, warning against appearing hostile to foreign investment.

The project is the brainchild of Jared Kushner through his investment firm Affinity Partners. The plans call for the wetland to be transformed into a sprawling, sparkling seaside plot of hotels, villas and high-end apartments. It is part of a larger push to transform Albania into an elite tourist destination. Tourism is the major driver of the Albanian economy, accounting for roughly 20% to 25% of the GDP. It has been the surest route to Westernization since the fall of the communist government in 1992.

At the heart of Kushner’s development project is Sazan Island, a place with a long military history. It was known to the ancient Greeks and the Romans, and it later became an important naval outpost for the Ottoman Empire. When Albania gained independence in 1912, the island’s ownership fell into dispute. It was occupied by the Italians in 1914 and became a fortified military base under Benito Mussolini.

After World War II, the island reverted to Albanian ownership and became a secret military site for Enver Hoxha, the repressive communist prime minister from 1944 to 1954. Underneath its lush pine forests sprouted a vast network of underground tunnels and bunkers, including a cinema, school and hospital. Even after the fall of communism, the island retained military relevance, becoming a joint Italian-Albanian base.

In the 2010s, as Albania was being granted EU candidate status and making itself more attractive to foreign investment, the island’s surrounding sea was designated a national marine park. It became a tranquil spot for citizens to bask and enjoy the local wildlife. And in 2024, the island came to the attention of Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump. In an interview with podcaster David Senra earlier this June, Ivanka claimed that the couple was “on a friend’s boat” and “stopped for a swim” when they found the island and became captivated by it. That set in motion the chain of events that led to the skirting of environmental protection laws, the detrimental construction project and the subsequent fiery protests. 

The protests have borne some fruit. Albania’s anti-corruption prosecutor SPAK (Special Structure against Corruption and Organized Crime) has opened an investigation into the shadowy legal maneuvering that initiated the project. The European Commission has warned Albania that the project could be detrimental to its EU membership, conflicting with the larger body’s environmental rules. A spokesperson for Sofjan Jaupaj, Albania’s environmental minister, has downplayed progress of the development, claiming that “no final project proposal has been submitted and construction activities have not commenced as no construction permit has been approved.”

Sazan Island and its surrounding region now enter a new, uncertain era. It has been an ancient naval outpost, a communist military base, a coastal getaway and may now become a glitzy tourist attraction backed by billions in foreign investment. The transformation is emblematic of Albania’s larger race to shed its past and join the West. And it features all of the pitfalls that go along with that.

Jeremy Gordon

Jeremy is a graduate student at Johns Hopkins University studying Creative Writing. He graduated from the University of Maryland with a bachelor's in Criminology and Criminal Justice and worked for four years as an Investigative Specialist with the Public Defender Service for DC. 

The Green Goal: Experience the 2026 World Cup Sustainably and Affordably

By Carson Jelinek

With 16 host cities across three countries, the 2026 World Cup will encourage fans to travel more efficiently by reducing their carbon footprint, choosing lower-impact transit and saving money.

Soccer stadium. David Bayliss. Unsplash.

The 2026 World Cup is coming in hot, and it’s bringing a whole lot more than just goals and glory: It’s turning North America into one long road trip, with 16 host cities spread across three countries.  The 11 host cities in the United States are Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami, New York/New Jersey, Philadelphia, the San Francisco Bay Area and Seattle. In Mexico, the host cities are Guadalajara, Mexico City and Monterrey. Canada’s host cities are Toronto and Vancouver. When the matches start rolling, the smartest way to move between them may not be to hop on another flight but to slow things down, stick to ground travel where possible and keep both your carbon footprint and budget a little lighter. Sometimes the best way to chase something big is to travel a little smarter, a little cleaner and a whole lot more intentionally.

Scenic view of Golden Gate Bridge. Helena Lopes. Pexels.

That greener route could look a lot of different ways, depending on the cities you choose and how much ground you want to cover. In some cases, it means taking a train or bus instead of booking another short-haul flight; in others, it means carpooling, sharing rides or simply staying longer in one place instead of bouncing from host city to host city. The difference isn’t small. Short-haul flights can emit more than 250 grams of carbon dioxide per passenger per kilometer, while rail travel can drop that number into the single digits. In some cases, choosing trains over planes can reduce emissions by up to 90%, making transportation one of the most important decisions fans will make when planning their World Cup journey.

Bus traveling along a scenic mountain. Santiago Quinonez Meza. Pexels.

Once fans arrive, the same mindset applies on the ground: walking when the stadium is close, using public transit when it’s not and leaning into travel plans that cut down on emissions without cutting down on the experience. As it turns out, the most sustainable choices are often the cheapest ones too, since fewer flights, less hotel switching and more local transit can keep costs down while making the trip feel more grounded and intentional.

Commuters inside a tram. Rishiraj Parmar. Pexels.

With the 2026 World Cup bringing people together across North America, the way fans travel becomes part of the experience. Choosing a train over a flight or spending an extra day in one city instead of hurrying to the next might seem minor, but when millions of people make these decisions, it affects the tournament’s environmental impact. In the end, following the World Cup is not only about the places you visit but also how you travel and the mark you leave behind.

Carson Jelinek

Carson is a 22 year old writer and filmmaker studying film and media productions at Arizona State University. His work explores travel, culture, and the people behind the places, with a focus on stories that encourage curiosity and global understanding.

The Victims of Agent Orange Making a Living Crafting Art

Ryan Yianni

On the outskirts of Ho Chi Minh City, victims of American bombing achieve financial independence through their unique artwork.

Artists working at Lang Viet Lacquers. Ryan Yianni.

If you ever find yourself in Ho Chi Minh City, it is almost a given that, at some point in your journey, you will travel to the Cu Chi Tunnels. Located just under 30 miles north of the country’s largest city, this famous spot along the Vietnam War-era network of underground tunnels has become a must-see attraction. There are a myriad of tour operators running daily trips to the tunnels, no doubt with some stops along the way. On my tour, our first visit was Lang Viet Lacquers, a small art factory on the outskirts of the city with a unique story.

Lang Viet Lacquers, situated in the city’s northwest, is a government-supported enterprise allowing victims of America’s brutal Agent Orange bombing campaign to achieve financial independence through lacquer painting, an art form that has existed in Vietnam and Southeast Asia for over 2,000 years. The stunning artwork consists of rich, almost reflective colors, with the addition of eggshell and mother-of-pearl to create bright, contrasting sparkles against the background.

My two purchases from Lang Viet Lacquers. Ryan Yianni.

Arriving in the intense heat of the Vietnamese sun, we stepped off the coach and were ushered into the workshop, where we saw firsthand the artwork being created with painstaking care and detail. We were told how all the artists are victims of Agent Orange, the herbicide sprayed in large quantities over Vietnam by U.S. forces during the Vietnam War. These victims are not just war veterans; the devastating effects of Agent Orange were passed down to descendants of those affected, and the succeeding generations have suffered greatly in turn. For each work of art sold, the proceeds go directly to the artists, helping them achieve financial independence. Many of the injuries and conditions they suffer from mean they cannot work in the traditional sense, predominantly due to mobility or developmental issues, so this outlet allows them to maintain their freedom. In their shop, you are able to purchase a wide variety of items, from small souvenirs to large, wall-hung art, so there is something for everyone’s budget and luggage space.

Artist adding finishing touches to painting. Ryan Yianni.

The actors behind Agent Orange initially claimed their intent to destroy the Vietnamese jungle and root out guerrilla forces deep in the overgrown countryside, but the effects were much more serious and long-lasting. Being sprayed across almost 3 million hectares, over 4 million Vietnamese were exposed to the chemical, and while those directly exposed suffered from health issues, such as multiple neurological disorders, increased cancer rates, heart disease and serious skin rashes and scarring, the effects of Agent Orange were also passed onto their children and grandchildren. Later generations of Vietnamese citizens whose parents and grandparents were victims of Agent Orange have suffered from cleft lip, heart defects, birth disorders leading to lack of limbs, increased cancer rates, congenital heart diseases and severe learning disabilities, to name a few. Studies have shown that Vietnamese exposed to Agent Orange also have a higher rate of dioxins in their bodies, which are highly toxic pollutants that can cause issues like chloracne, cancer, immune and reproductive problems, developmental issues and chronic illnesses.

One of the reasons for the continued effects of Agent Orange on the younger generations is the fact that these dioxins are still found in Vietnamese soil, water and food chain. It is consumed through contaminated crops and livestock, breathed in via dust and absorbed through the skin, meaning that Agent Orange has continued to plague Vietnamese civilians for decades after the last of the chemical was dropped on the country. Additionally, dioxins have a half-life of 7 to 11 years, meaning that the strength of the chemicals did not decrease until approximately 1980 and is still present today, although in lower quantities and intensity

Agent Orange also had a strong impact on Vietnamese wildlife: A post-war study found 24 species of birds and 5 species of mammals in an area of forest that had been heavily sprayed, compared to two non-sprayed forest areas that each had over 100 bird species and at least 30 mammal species. Studies have found that the rate of miscarriages and birth defects was significantly higher in women who had been exposed to Agent Orange. Research has also shown that U.S and Australian soldiers who were exposed to Agent Orange have a much higher risk of elevated blood pressure and tumors, among other health issues, while those soldiers exposed to the dioxins had a higher rate of soft-tissue sarcoma, a rare type of cancer found in muscle tissue. A 2021 study also found that American veterans exposed to the herbicide were almost twice as likely to develop dementia.

The United States began to deploy herbicidal agents in Vietnam in January 1962, with the launch of Operation Ranch Hand, although the first major operations did not begin until September, when mangrove forests on the Mekong River were targeted. The majority of Agent Orange usage was between 1966 and 1969, with an estimated 170 kilograms of dioxin dropped on Vietnam and even more sprayed onto the border areas of Laos and Cambodia. By 1971, the evidence of the harmful effects was beginning to be known, and the U.S. government halted all herbicidal spraying operations in Vietnam, with the remaining stock destroyed by 1977.

The use of Agent Orange was incredibly controversial at the time. The Federation of American Scientists urged the U.S. government not to use chemical and biological weapons unless used by the enemy first in 1964, concerned that the government was not discriminating between military and civilian targets. In 1966, a group of scientists led by John Edsall of Harvard University appealed to President Lyndon B. Johnson to ban the use of such weapons. The statement reads, “such tactics are barbarous because they are indiscriminate; they represent an attack on the entire population of the region where the crops are destroyed, combatants and non-combatants alike." Similar protests continued for the remainder of the war. 

If you are able to visit Lang Viet Lacquers, it is well worth the trip. Being able to purchase some great souvenirs, along with helping those who have suffered the consequences of America’s brutal war, is a worthy highlight of a trip to Vietnam. I’m a big believer in leaving somewhere better than I found it, embracing local cultures and giving back to the communities I have discovered through my travels, and this is a great way to do all three. 

GETTING THERE:

Lang Viet’s is located just nine miles north of the airport. You can book a Grab Bike from the center of Ho Chi Minh City near Ben Thanh Market, Saigon Central Post Office, Independence Palace or the Cathedral for about four dollars. It is also served by buses 13, 24, 74 and 94, which stop just outside the shop.

---

Ryan Yianni

Ryan is a lover of all things travel. After undertaking his first solo adventure in 2025, he has relocated to Australia from the UK. A history graduate from the University of the West of England, Ryan’s writing focuses on the historical issues faced by the places he has explored, looking at how the hardships of the past have been overcome and remembered.

Observe “Re-wilded” Asian Elephants in their Natural Habitat in Thailand

Salome Liptak

The Mahouts Elephant Foundation offers a unique opportunity for sustainable tourism while also contributing to Asian elephant conservation and Indigenous livelihoods.

Asian elephant in cloud forest. Salome Liptak.

Deep in Thailand’s mountainous Western Forest Complex, a group of travelers observes Asian elephants as they sleep, forage and socialize in the lush cloud forest that is their natural home. Between the visitors and elephants stand the mahouts, or caretakers, who trek out to check on the animals anywhere from once a week to once a day, depending on their individual needs. The mahouts also act as expert guides for the travelers, tracking the elephants’ courses by the plants they crush in their wake and maintaining the safety of both the humans and animals present. Speaking in their Indigenous Karen language to translators, they can tell where the elephants will want to pass, instructing the visitors on where to move next.

This unique experience has been made possible by the Mahouts Elephant Foundation, a non-profit focusing on Asian elephant conservation and sustainable tourism, founded by Sarah Blaine and her family. Offering different trips with outdoor adventure, conservation education and volunteer focuses, the foundation prioritizes cultural immersion in the Karen community through host families sharing language, food and Indigenous craftsmanship. As a sustainable tourism organization, they utilize a multi-faceted and multi-disciplinary approach to fill the gap in elephant conservation efforts in Thailand.

Elephants have made up a large portion of Thailand’s tourism sector since 1989, when the government imposed a logging ban that left thousands of elephants and their mahouts unemployed. Taking care of an elephant is expensive, and mahouts and their families, who were suddenly destabilized by the economic crisis, were often unable to find new livelihoods that provided enough for them to continue caring for the animals. The majority of these mahouts belong to ethnic minorities, including refugees from Myanmar, and they were therefore especially economically vulnerable. Mahouts consider their elephants as members of their family, which makes the prospect of needing to sell one inconceivable. Despite this, many were forced to lease their elephants into the tourism industry, creating ethical concerns for the well-being of the animals and caretakers alike. The subsequent move to larger cities left mahouts separated from family members as they worked in unfamiliar and dangerous conditions.

Tourist camp practices range from the seemingly benign acts of elephant feeding and bathing to the more obviously unnatural training of elephants to paint, walk on their two hind legs and carry people. While these practices are on a spectrum of severity, all of them require a form of behavioral subjugation, wherein an elephant is trained to do what it would not do naturally. At its most violent, this process is referred to as “crushing” an elephant and involves separating young calves from their families, chaining them in small cells and systematically prodding and hitting them with sharp tools until they follow commands. Elephants are large, powerful animals that can be dangerous to humans, especially in these abusive conditions.

The mahouts, as the legal owners of the elephants, are essentially indentured in the tourist camps. They endure immense levels of stress from the responsibility of keeping the elephants from revolting and hurting tourists. Poverty, the separation from family and the trauma of facilitating or witnessing the crush have contributed to the mental health struggles of mahouts working in tourist camps. These ethical issues have called for reforms in the industry and caused a surge of elephant sanctuaries to open in Thailand, with various approaches and visions of what conservation looks like. Still, today, wild elephants are greatly outnumbered by captive ones, 75% of which are being used in the tourism entertainment industry in some form. 

In the foundation’s own words, their mission to combine conservation and community collaboration “cuts off the supply of elephants to the tourism industry, stops the demand of tourists by offering ethical alternatives, brings a sustainable source of income to impoverished communities, and provides science-based evidence showing good elephant welfare.” Their model is unique in its integration of the humanitarian issues of the tourism industry with strict policies on ethical interactions with the elephants.

Elephants brought onto their projects are referred to as “re-wilded,” meaning that while the organization has legal and financial ownership, the animals continue to be looked after by their mahouts and live in the forest as they would naturally. There is no immediate contact between visitors and elephants, including feeding or bathing, with visitors always kept at a distance. The foundation’s conservation and behavioral research contributions are also unique, stemming from research director Liv Baker’s approach, which focuses on individual animal well-being beyond overall population statistics. This informs their trip policies, prohibiting behaviors that many other elephant sanctuaries in Thailand allow and questioning the right of human visitors to interact with the animals.

By fully collaborating with the Indigenous community, Mahouts Elephant Foundation has created a unique environment where conservation research exists alongside an ethical tourism experience. While guests are welcomed and thoughtfully cared for, they must remain conscientious of their role as visitors, staying mindful of the locals, elephants and landscape without thinking of themselves as an audience to be entertained. 

GET INVOLVED:

Mahouts Elephant Foundation lets students, volunteers and adventurers hike through the cloud forest in Northern Thailand to observe re-wilded elephants in their natural habitat. For those looking to support the Karen people’s work to foster peace and security in their communities, visit the Karen Organization of Minnesota or check out the Karen cultural crafts for sale at Borderline Collective. Those interested in digging further into animal ethics and wellbeing can visit PAN Works for their extensive work with Asian elephants, as well as other members of the more-than-human community.

---

Salome Liptak

Salomé is a student at Sarah Lawrence College studying literature and writing. She is passionate about storytelling (both true and fictional) and its power to reflect the world as it is, or imagine what could be.