Monitoring Desk
ISLAMABAD/TEHRAN: One of the last Asiatic cheetah cubs in the world, which served as a symbol of hope for anti-government demonstrators in Iran, died, with Iranians mourning its loss.
Pirouz, known as victory in English, had gained attention on social media after overcoming all odds to live. It passed away from kidney failure in a Tehran facility last month, prompting a flood of online condolences.
The demonstrators praised the cub, praising its tenacity as a symbol of their willpower. Following the death in detention of a woman imprisoned by Iran’s morality police in September last year, anti-government demonstrations had erupted across the nation.
Millions of Iranians have been following Pirouz’s journey in the media and online since the beginning. Iran is one of the last remaining strongholds for this critically endangered wild cat species, even though there are estimated to be just 12 wild Asiatic cheetahs there.
In Iran, cheetahs are viewed as a source of pride. They represent speed and might in Persian poetry, art, and even on the football team’s uniform. But, Pirouz, the little cheetah cub, has earned its status as an icon.
The cub’s mother was sent to Touran, a wildlife refuge facility northwest of the nation, in 2022. There, she was paired with a male named Firouz. The three cubs were all born by caesarean section in Iran in May. But, because their mother had rejected them, the cubs’ life was in jeopardy.
Iranian Veterinary Association President Dr Payam Mohebi said that the mother in Iran didn’t recognize her pups immediately and pushed them away. Two cubs perished in days from organ failure and malnutrition while the country watched on.
Several people expressed their ire at the government, accusing it of being indifferent to environmental conditions and responsible for the death of the cubs. Yet, Pirouz could still be saved.
At that point, an Iranian environmental activist named Alireza Shahrdari was tasked with caring for the male cub. Shahrdari used to nap next to the cub every night.
Videos of Pirouz dozing close to his “human dad” went viral on social media, catching the attention and hearts of millions of Iranians. When the nationwide demonstrations in Iran started, Pirouz was just five months old.
Photos of Pirouz were praised on social media as “Iran’s victorious son” for surviving many issues despite having multiple medical concerns. Due to his name and personality, Pirouz was adopted as a symbol of anti-regime protestors’ unity.
Even the Grammy-winning song Baraye by Iranian singer Shervin Hajipour, whose name means “for the sake of” in Persian, depicts Pirouz’s struggle for survival.
The song’s lyrics are a compilation of Iranians’ tweets bemoaning the state of affairs in their nation, including “for the sake of dancing in the streets,” “for fear of kissing,” “for the sake of Pirouz and the threat of his approaching extinction,” and “for the sake of women, life, and freedom.”
On February 26, Pirouz reportedly died from kidney failure while being held by Shahrdari. Epitaphs for the young cub flooded social media. Dr. Mohebi added, “His life was brief, but his name and memory will stay in our hearts forever.
Ali Karimi, a former national player, and current Iranian football coach, wrote on Twitter that neither humans nor animals are safe under the shadow of the Islamic Republic. The Iranian Directorate for the Environment declined to respond when contacted by the BBC.
