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?
Disappeared for 80 years,
Persian lion once prowled from the Middle East to India, while currently
only a fraction of these magnificent animals survive in the wild, which
range is restricted to the Gir National Park and environs in the Indian
state of Gujarat.
On the International Union for
Conservation of Nature Red List, it is listed under its former
scientific name Panthera leo persica as Endangered because of its small
population size and area of occupancy.
Conflicts with humans, wildfires,
poaching, habitat loss, canine distemper virus, decreases in population
sizes of native ungulates were among the threats pushed the lions toward
extinction in Iran, while lack of protection measures and plans is not
deniable either.
A male Persian lion, born 6 years ago, was
sent to Tehran Zoological Garden from Britain’s Bristol Zoo a week ago,
under a population management program aiming at endangered species
reproduction by the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA).
Under the program, European Endangered
Species Programme recommended that a lion couple to be brought to Iran
in order to conserve and recover the species once again in their
original habitat employing disease control measures.
Iran will soon host a female lion of the
same subspecies from Ireland to accompany the recently returned male
lion through the conservation program.
However, questions come up that will the
world's last ranging population of Persian lion raises hope for the
species conservation? Does it ensure a stable lion population in the
country?
First attempts to bring back the precious species
In the Iranian calendar year 1350 (March
1971-March 1971), Iran made attempts to bring back Asiatic lion to Iran,
under an international project aiming to revive the country’s natural
habitats, but it faced Indians opposition.
The project was called Arzhan due to the
fact that lions once ranged in Dasht-e Arzhan, to Parishan Lake both
located in Fars province.
Under the project, Iran was supposed to send 4 Asiatic cheetahs to the India and receive 12-16 Asiatic lions in return.
Hooshang Ziaei, an environmental expert,
told Khabaronline that we made great efforts for the project which
mainly focused on rehabilitation of habitats.
In this regard, we bought some of the
rainforests in proper areas and enhanced the population of wild boar,
gazelle and ovis orientalis in these areas, he said, adding, then we
increased the population of Persian fallow deer, so that the lion’s
habitat was prepared.
However, India did not cooperate and the
project left unattended, he regretted, adding, the area’s environment
also bearded severe damages that led Parishan lake to be dried up.
No concern rises toward the species habitat
This is while, some of the past
experiences have caused some environmentalists to be concerned about the
Persian lion's future in Tehran Zoological Garden, as in the Iranian
calendar year 1389 (March 2010-March 2011), 14 lions died in the Zoo due
to an outbreak of glanders (an infectious disease occurs primarily by
ingestion of contaminated food or water), which is mainly related to not
meeting the standards.
Mohammad Reza Parhizkar, head of Tehran
Zoological Garden, told Khabaronline that “we put in efforts to bring
back Asiatic lion for 6 years, so it can be a new beginning for the
species to live in its motherland once again.”
He went on to note that I believe that it
was a positive attempt to help the generation of the species and revive
the country's wildlife.
Lions are returned to the country due to
the membership of the Tehran Zoo in EAZA, and the organization never
allows the wildlife species to transfer to a zoo not meeting the
internationally defined standards, Parhizkar also added.
Pointing to the traumatic event, he said
that the condition is improved compared to 8 years ago, the Zoo is
living up to the required standards, and take safety measure strictly to
prevent such happenings.
So there is no concern about the condition
and the place where the animal is being kept, he said, adding that of
course, there are still several steps to be taken to conserve Persian
lion in the country, perhaps many measures needed to be carried out in
this regard.
Referring to the lion couple’s future
habitat, he noted that Dez forests, in Dezful county located in
Khuzestan province, seems to be a proper habitat for the lions due to
the presence of fallow deer species, with fencing the roads taken into
consideration.
Although, several studies must be carried
out to determine their natural habitat precisely, he said, highlighting
that if the studies demonstrate negative consequences, reproduction of
the species in the country will be avoided even through captive breeding
in the zoos.
Asiatic lions range years ago
Until the 19th century, it occurred in
eastern Turkey, Iran, Mesopotamia, and from east of the Indus River to
Bengal and Narmada River in Central India. Since the turn of the 20th
century, it is restricted to the Indian Gir Forest National Park and
surrounding areas.
Historical records in Iran indicate that
the Asiatic lion ranged from the Khuzestan Plain to the Fars in steppe
vegetation and pistachio-almond woodlands. It was widespread in the
country, but in the 1870s, it was sighted only on the western slopes of
the Zagros Mountains, and in the forest regions south of Shiraz.
Some of the country's last lions were
sighted in 1941 between Shiraz and Jahrom in Fars province, and in 1942,
a lion was spotted about 65 km northwest of Dezful. In 1944, the corpse
of a lioness was found on the banks of Karun River in Khuzestan
province.
Persian lion to remain in Iran
Although, current weather and other
conditions in the country seems appropriate to bring the invaluable
species back to the motherland again, protection plans must be drawn up
defining the related issues along with taking necessary measures to
prevent the species from facing the threats resulted in their
eradication before.
Studies on recognizing the favorable
habitat for the lions, enhancing the protected areas as well as the
rangers, increasing the species’ prey, highlighting the role of NGOs on
reintroducing this species, making people acquainted with the endangered
species and training the locals to know the value of the Persian lion
and prevent any illegal capturing of the animal are among the solutions
to ensure a stable lion population in the country.
FB/MG
https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/435467/Will-recently-returned-Persian-lion-survive-threats-once-pushed
ect their survival.