Wildlife population 4-folded in private sanctuaries

TEHRAN – The population of prominent wildlife species such as the wild goats and urials in private sanctuaries has increased 1.5 to 4 times after a period of 8 to 9 years, Hassan Akbari, deputy head of natural environment and biodiversity of the Department of Environment (DOE), said.

Wildlife population in Golestan National Park increased by 30%

TEHRAN – Some 8,283 urials and deer were identified in Golestan National Park at the end of the autumnal wildlife census focusing on herbivorous species, which is an increase of 30 percent compared to the same period last year.

First wildlife breeding center in North Khorasan to be set up

TEHRAN – The first wildlife breeding center in North Khorasan province will be established by a private-sector investor, Mehdi Allahpour, head of the provincial department of the environment, has stated.

Keramat Garden, a place for helping injured, orphaned wildlife

TEHRAN – Every year, many animals are injured by predators or are orphaned at their natural habitats. They are handed over to Keramatollah Riahi who owns a rehabilitation center in the southwestern Chaharmahal-Bakhtiari province, IRNA reported on Monday.

National congress on wildlife diseases, conservation to be held

TEHRAN – Tehran will play host to the first national congress on wildlife diseases and conservation which will be held in the Iranian calendar month of Azar (November 22- December 21), Mehr reported on Wednesday.

DOE plans to conserve Lake Urmia islands ecosystem

TEHRAN – The Department of Environment (DOE) will implement four plans on reviving the endangered ecosystem and wildlife of the Lake Urmia islands, Hamid Zohrabi, DOE deputy chief for natural environment and biodiversity directorate, announced.

DOE plans on live capture of cheetahs for conservation

TEHRAN – The Department of Environment (DOE) is preparing a plan on capturing two remaining Asiatic cheetahs alive for conservation and reproduction purposes, Majid Kharrazian-Moqaddam, director of the wildlife conservation and management at the DOE has said.

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.

By Faranak Bakhtiari

Animals in captivity: Is there such a thing as a good zoo?

TEHRAN – The recent activities of Tehran Zoological Garden have sparked a heated debate between advocates of animal rights and zoo directors, on whether or not zoos endanger wildlife species for their own interests or they have educational and protective objectives.

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.

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?

By Jamshid Parchizadeh

The most important threats to brown bear populations in Iran

Iran is a vast country with an area of 1,623,779 km2 in which there are 164 mammal species including the Asiatic black bear and brown bear. Human-bear conflict is the main reason for the brown bear number reduction and range collapse in this country. In this short article, I summarize the most important threats to brown bear populations in Iran:

150 animals in danger of extinction in Iran

TEHRAN — There are 1,200 species of animals existing in Iran, of which 150 are on the verge of extinction, an official with Iranian Biological Resource Center affiliated to the Academic Center for Education, Culture and Research (ACECR) has said.

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.