Botulism kills 10,000 birds in Miankaleh peninsula, Gorgan Bay

TEHRAN – Some 10,000 bodies of lifeless migratory birds died as a result of botulism poisoning have been found so far around the Miankaleh peninsula and Gorgan Bay, located in the extreme south-eastern part of the Caspian Sea.

Wildfire burns 340ha of Miankaleh wildlife sanctuary

TEHRAN – Raging wildfire burnt about 340 hectares of the Miankaleh wildlife sanctuary in northern Mazandaran province on Sunday, commander of the protection unit at the provincial department of environment has stated.

By Faranak Bakhtiari

End of the line for Iran's bird-watching paradise?

TEHRAN – Miankaleh international wetland has recently witnessed the death of over 13,000 migratory birds. Although veterinary organization announced that the birds have been killed due to the “botulinum toxin”, some environmentalists believe that water pollution and other factors that have not yet been investigated have caused unprecedented bird mortality in the area.

Birdwatching can propel tourism growth in Caspian Sea island

TEHRAN – Ashuradeh, Iran’s sole island in the Caspian Sea, and its surrounding wetlands constitute a rich ecological haven for many migratory birds. However, birdwatching has remained somehow an untapped potential for tourism growth in the coastal region.

‘Miankaleh peninsula under serious threats’

TEHRAN – Miankaleh peninsula may not be disappearing, but the lack of fresh water resources makes is highly vulnerable and at risk, Masoud Baqerzadeh Karimi, deputy director for the natural habitat and environment affairs at the Department of Environment has warned.

Whooper swans come to northern Iran two weeks earlier

TEHRAN – Whooper swans, the last group of migratory birds spending winter in northern Iran, landed in Miankaleh wetland in eastern part of Mazandaran province two weeks earlier, deputy director for the provincial department of environment (DOE) has said.

Miankaleh peninsula faces serious risk of disappearing

TEHRAN — Miankaleh peninsula, one of the richest ecological havens in West Asia and perhaps in the whole world, is seriously threatened as unsustainable development and conversion continue to pose major threats to its wetlands.