By Faranak Bakhtiari

Will the world’s fastest Asiatic cheetah outrun extinction?

TEHRAN – Although Iran is the only country which can save the precious species from disappearance, conservation projects fall into a single solution of captive-breeding. Cheetah’s captive-breeding is not necessarily an inefficient plan, nonetheless concerns come up from recent unsuccessful projects. Will the endangered beauty surpass its unknown fate and escape extinction?

Traps picture 10 Persian leopards in southwestern Iran

TEHRAN – Camera traps have succeeded in taking photos of 10 Persian leopards inhabiting in Dena National Park, located in southwestern Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province, the provincial department of environment chief, has announced.

Illegal trade of unique Persian horned viper banned

TEHRAN – Illegal trade of spider-tailed horned viper, a unique species of viper endemic to western Iran, has been banned by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), Hamid Zohrabi, deputy Department of Environment (DOE) chief has announced.

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.

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.

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.

‘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.

By Faranak Bakhtiari

Will recently returned Persian lion survive threats once pushed it toward extinction?

TEHRAN – Long-lost Persian lion is back to the country to conserve the rare species by reproduction, the species which once gone extinct due to excessive hunting and habitat loss, so the question arises, will the endangered species survive the threats which once pushed it through eradication?

Asiatic cheetah, Persian leopards observed in north central Iran

TEHRAN – An Asiatic cheetah and two Persian leopards have been spotted in Shahrood county in north central Semnan province, Amir Abdous, the provincial department of environment (DOE) chief has announced.

Injured Caracal survived death in southern Iran

TEHRAN – A Caracal, a wild cat, found wounded in Jahrom city, the southern province of Fars, survived after receiving immediate medical treatment, IRNA reported on Friday.

CITES seeking to ban rare spider-tailed horned viper trade

TEHRAN – The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) has proposed to ban illegal trade of spider-tailed horned viper, a unique species of viper endemic to western Iran being pushed toward extinction through poaching, ISNA reported on Tuesday.

$4m earmarked for Asiatic cheetah conservation

TEHRAN – A total budget of $4 million will be allocated to prevent the remaining precious species of Asiatic cheetah from extinction, through a five-year plan, deputy environment chief for Department of Environment (DOE) natural environment and biodiversity directorate has announced.

By Lachin Rezaian

Success in artificial insemination in Persian leopards may raise hopes for rare big cats: wildlife biologist 

TEHRAN — Mohammad Farhadinia, a post-doctoral research fellow at University of Oxford, said the new move to use artificial insemination to breed Persian leopards could raise hopes for conservation of big cats. 

Over 8,000 lesser white-fronted geese wintering in northwest Iran

TEHRAN – about 8,000 endangered population of lesser white-fronted geese were are wintering in West Azarbaijan province, northwestern part of the country, head of wildlife monitoring affairs at the provincial department of environment has said.

Rare Corsac fox coming to the verge of extinction

TEHRAN – The Corsac fox, a small intelligent hunter, having a limited range in Turkmen Sahara, northeastern Iran, is endangered due to habitat fragmentation and lack of safety, Mehr reported on Tuesday.

‘Iran's wildlife population shrinking at alarming rate’

TEHRAN – The country’s wild species population is shrinking at an alarming rate as many of the species are facing a decline being killed in car crashes as a result of road construction in the middle of forests and depletion of their habitats, chief of Alborz province department of environment (DOE) has said.