Female Asiatic lion to join male companion in Iran

TEHRAN – Iran will play host to a female Asiatic lion from Ireland to accompany the recently returned male lion under a population management program aiming at endangered species reproduction by the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA), a veterinarian at Eram Zoo has said.

Euphrates softshell turtle threatened with extinction in Iran

TEHRAN – Euphrates softshell turtle is endangered in the country mainly due to habitat loss and low precipitation, environmental expert Asghar Mobaraki told YJC on Friday.

140 swarms of desert locusts eradicated in southeastern Iran

TEHRAN – Desert locust breakout contained in 400,000 hectares of lands and some 140 swarms have been eradicated, Esmaeel Najjar, head of Iran’s Crisis Management Organization has said.

Common water hyacinth venders sell carcinogenic

TEHRAN —Eichhornia crassipes, commonly known as common water hyacinth, which is being sold by vendors on the streets are carcinogenic plant species and their trade must be banned.

‘Water level at Lake Urmia unprecedented for the past decade’

TEHRAN — The level of water at Lake Urmia, a body of water located in northwestern Iran, is unprecedented for the past 10 years, an official with West Azarbaijan province’s department of environment has said.

Rare Asiatic cheetah sighted in north-central Iran

TEHRAN – An Asiatic cheetah has been caught on cameras near a watering trough at Khar Turan National Park of Shahroud county located in north-central province of Semnan, YJC reported on Wednesday.

By Faranak Bakhtiari

Why DOE consents to construction of dam on Anzali wetland?

TEHRAN – While the Department of Environment (DOE) has issued a construction license for Lask dam on Anzali wetland, counting its advantages, some are still expressing worries: what are the unpredictable effects of building the dam on the region’s ecosystem and are the DOE’s reasons convincing?

Ovine rinderpest kills red deer in northern Iran

TEHRAN — Some 6 red deer lost their lives due to an outbreak of ovine rinderpest, a contagious disease of cattle, sheep, and goats, in Talesh county located in northern Gilan province, ISNA reported on Friday.

Camera traps picture Asiatic cheetah, Persian leopards in Semnan

TEHRAN – An Asiatic cheetah and three Persian leopards have been observed through camera traps in Shahrood county in north central Semnan province, Amir Abdous, the provincial department of environment chief, has announced.

7 Persian fallow deer born in wildlife refuge in northern Iran

TEHRAN — Since the beginning of the current year (March 21), seven Persian fallow deer have been born in Dasht-e Naz wildlife refuge in northern city of Sari, Mazandaran province, Fars news agency reported on Friday.

World's intelligent hunters in a race for survival in Iran

TEHRAN – Foxes, the intelligent hunters who avoid humans, having a limited range in Iran, are endangered due to human encroachment on their habitats and the lack of safety, said Jalil Imani, a biodiversity and ecosystems management expert.

Salt harvesting; a way of survival for Lake Urmia

TEHRAN – The results of recent studies showed that salts encrusted the Lake Urmia’s bed are required to be extracted to prevent from reduction of water level and becoming a salt flat, deputy chief of the Department of Environment (DOE), Masoud Tajrishi, has said.

‘Consistent supply of water to Lake Urmia only way to save it’

TEHRAN — Consistent supply of water to Lake Urmia is the only solution to save the lake, head of the provincial department for the Lake Urmia restoration program in West Azarbaijan province has said.

Dam constriction on Anzali wetland; threats and advantages

TEHRAN – With the construction project of Lasak dam on Anzali wetland getting underway many are now voicing concerns or counting advantages of building the dam on the precious ecosystem.

5-year plan launched to safeguard Zagros forests

TEHRAN — A 5-year conservation plan for Zagros forests has been designed and gone into effect this year (starting on March 21), an official with Forest, Rangeland and Watershed Organization (FRWO) has said.

Will Iran set all-time heat records this summer?

TEHRAN – Following torrential rain and flooding in the country, some experts say that this summer will beat the heat records, with sweltering temperatures scattering around the country.

Researchers discover flat cup coral habitat in Persian Gulf

TEHRAN — Researchers have discovered one of the main habitats of flat cup coral in the Persian Gulf, ISNA news agency reported on Monday.

‘Four bird species on the edge of extinction’

TEHRAN – An ornithology expert, Alireza Hashemi, has warned that four bird species are on the verge of extinction in Iran, driven by the destruction of natural habitats, hunting, and other destructive human actions.

Flamingos return to Gavkhuni wetland after 2 years

TEHRAN – Flamingos landed once again in recently replenished Gavkhuni wetland in central province of Isfahan, after 2 years, the provincial department of environment deputy director has said.

Colorful butterflies flap wings across the capital

TEHRAN – Great numbers of butterflies are taking to the skies of the capital, following rainy periods, Tehran City Council member has stated.

Is Lake Urmia on fast track to total restoration?

TEHRAN — Kiumars Daneshjoo, CEO of West Azarbaijan regional water company, said on Saturday that two billion cubic meters of water is released from the dams surrounding the Lake Urmia increasing the volume of water at the lake to more than 5.3 billion cubic meters.

World Migratory Bird Day: habitat destruction posing threats to the species

TEHRAN — Unsustainable development leading to habitat destruction is one of the major threats to migratory birds, Masoud Hosseini, an official with Iran’s Department of Environment has said.

No plans for reintroduction of Asiatic lion: DOE official

TEHRAN — Iran’s Department of Environment (DOE) has no specific plans for reintroduction of Asiatic lion into the wild for the time being, Majid Kharrazian-Moqaddam, director of the wildlife conservation and management at the DOE, has said.

‘Wetland restoration budget must be spent on increasing vegetation cover’

TEHRAN – After flood filled the dams and water resources in the country, some claimed that the budget for conservation of wetlands and reforestation must be cut, while it must be earmarked to restore vegetation cover in forests and rangelands, deputy chief for natural environment and biodiversity directorate at the Department of Environment has stated.

By Faranak Bakhtiari

Precipitation doused Iran, western provinces hit records high

TEHRAN – Iran has experienced 40.5 percent rise in rainfall since the current water year (September 23, 2018) compared to the long-term mean with western provinces of Lorestan and Ilam setting the record for the highest rainfall levels.

Sistan-Baluchestan infested with desert locust

TEHRAN — According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the southeastern province of Sistan-Baluchestan is infested by desert locust, director of the agriculture organization of the province has said.

As Lake Urmia replenishes Artemia returns to the lake

TEHRAN — After heavy rainfalls nationwide Lake Urmia, northwestern Iran, sprang back into life and now Artemia, aquatic species which used to reside in the lake, returned once again.

Kani Barazan international wetland overflows after a decade

TEHRAN – Recent downpours made Kani Barazan international wetland full to bursting its banks which is unprecedented over the past ten years, Mahabad chief of department of environment (DOE) has stated.

‘Watershed management; Iran’s only way to survive drought, severe rainfall’

TEHRAN – The only way for the country to overcome long-term droughts along with preventing floods is through comprehensive watershed management plnas, Ali Salajeqeh, University of Tehran faculty in river engineering and watershed management, has said.