|
In
Search for the Leopard in Baluchestan
April
2008- As
one of the least known areas in Iran, Baluchistan wildlife has rarely been
studied. The elusive Persian leopard seems to survive inside a several areas
near the Pakistan, but no investigation has been yet conducted about
the status of this endangered animal throughout the Iranian Baluchestan.
With an area of more than 700 square kilometers, the Birk Mountain Protected
Area is considered as the most important habitat for the leopards in
Baluchistan. As a result of field efforts, ICS researchers have concluded an
intense conflict between Baluch nomads inhabiting this area and the
leopards, so that they lose at least 10 to 20 domestic goats to the cat
every month.

A Refuge for Persian leopards in Northeastern Iran
March
2008-
Located in the
neighborhood of Ghorkhod Protected Area and Golestan National Park near
Turkmenistan border, Behkadeh Reserve is considered as one of the leopard’s
habitats in the northeastern Iran. This area is also one of the least known
habitats of leopards in the country which has not been properly studied yet.
According to the surveys conducted in this area since summer 2007, most of
the leopards tracks seem to be not large as Persian leopards' tracks found
in adjacent habitats, such as Sarigol NP and Golestan NP. Moreover, the
animals have rarely been seen in companion of cubs.

Land
of the Iranian Cheetahs
January
2008- Ecological and population studies on the Iranian cheetah in Miandasht
Wildlife Refuge has been undergoing using camera trapping technique.
Following assessment of the cheetah main habitat in the area according field
researches, a total of 15 camera traps were set up at various spots in the
area since end of August till mid of December. Given the limited
availability of water resources in desert habitats at the end of summer;
therefore we tried to set up most of the cameras at the trails reaching to
waterholes.

Cheetah Training Course for Shepherds
in Bafq Protected Area
December
2007- Islamic council of five main villages inside Bafq Protected Area are organizing to train the shepherds and
villagers about the critically Asiatic cheetah. These target settlements
have been selected due to their vicinity to the cheetah habitat as well as
their higher impact on human-induced mortality of the cheetahs in Bafq PA
where is estimated to hold more than 10 animals. In cooperation with UNDP/GEF
SGP, DOE and PTES, the Iranian Cheetah Society (ICS) is educating different
target groups in Bafq where holds the highest cheetah mortality in the
country till end of 2008.

A
Heaven for Brown Bears in Iran

November
2007- The first ecological study
on the brown bear in Iran has been
conducting since 2006 by the Iranian Cheetah Society (ICS) in North Central
Alborz Protected Area. Supported by the Iranian Department of the
Environment (DOE) and Deutch Zoo Conservation Fund (DZCF), this research
project has focused on various ecological aspects of the species as a part
of "ICS Big Carnivores Program" in Iran. The
study area is mainly composed of Hyrcanian mountain forests which is in
northern Mazandaran province, aiming to provide a baseline for the future
studies as well as to develop management plans.
|