Where is the biodiversity capital of Iran?

Semnan Province, north-central Iran, is considered the biodiversity capital of the country.

According to the officials, the province is home to 160 species of birds, 50 species of mammals, 40 reptiles, 6 amphibians, and in addition, all eight species of cats in our country's climate inhabit the region and none of them became extinct.

Khar Turan National Park or Touran Wildlife Refuge in Semnan is the only breeding habitat of cheetahs in Iran and the world. Therefore, this biosphere is of great importance.

The province also hosts three national parks including Kavir National Park, Turan National Park, and Sidova National Park, two wildlife sanctuaries in Khosh Yeilagh and Turan, and two protected areas in Parvar, and Turan, five no-hunting areas.

These areas are in fact a natural exhibition of rare wildlife species such as Asiatic cheetah, Persian leopard, Persian ground jaya, Persian onager, Asiatic mouflon, sand cat, chinkara, and various plant species.

Among the wildlife species, the Asiatic cheetah and the Persian onager are among the valuable and endangered species, and Semnan province is known as one of the best habitats of these two rare species in the world.

MM/FM