The decline of ungulate populations in Iranian protected areas calls for urgent action against poaching

Abstract

Poaching is cryptically but rapidly driving many species towards extinction. Knowledge of population trends of exploited species and incentives for poaching is necessary to inform appropriate conservation measures. We estimated the abundance of four ungulate species in Golestan National Park, Iran, the country's oldest protected area, where poaching of ungulates is widespread. We used line transect surveys (186 km), camera trapping (2,777 camera-nights), point counts (64 scans) and dung counts (along 38 km), and compared population estimates with those from earlier records. We also investigated the incentives for poaching, using a semi-structured interview survey. Population estimates for 2011–2014 indicated a 66–89% decline in three ungulate species (bezoar goat Capra aegagrus, red deer Cervus elaphus and urial Ovis vignei) compared to 1970–1978. Only wild boar Sus scrofa showed a population increase (of 58%) during the same period, possibly facilitated by religious restrictions regarding the consumption of this species. The incentives for poaching were categorized (in a non-ordinal manner) as subsistence, pleasure, tradition, trade of wild meat, and conflict with conservation regulations and bodies. The decline in hunted ungulates in this Park appears to be the result of rampant poaching, and a similar trend is evident in other protected areas in the country. We suggest the adoption of participatory conservation strategies, improvement of law enforcement practices and cooperation with international experts to reduce poaching in these protected areas. Taking into account the incentives for poaching, a combination of economic and non-economic strategies should be considered.

Distribution and human‐caused mortality of Persian leopards Panthera pardus saxicolor in Iran, based on unpublished data and Farsi gray literature

“…The other reason for human–leopard conflicts, which has been overlooked in Iran for many years, is that leopards are killed for their skins. Huge profits can be made from trafficking luxury wildlife goods (Brashares et al, ), and due to a lack of official conservation measures in the forms of wildlife rangers and equipment (Ilam University, ; Sanei, ; Sanei et al, ; Sanei & Zakaria, ), the presence of poachers within most of Iran's protected areas remains as a threat to leopards (Sanei et al, ) and their main prey species (Ghoddousi et al, ). However, research is needed to determine the extent of this threat.…”

Endozoochorous dispersal by herbivores and omnivores is mediated by germination conditions

“…Anthropogenic factors may also explain the absence of difference in species richness among our animal vectors. In the GNP, there has been a dramatic decline in large herbivores [35] mainly due to livestock grazing, habitat loss and intensive poaching [36]. The small remaining deer populations are now limited to the less disturbed sites, where, consequently, herbivory pressure has been increasing.…”

Endozoochorous dispersal by herbivores and omnivores is mediated by germination conditions

“…Anthropogenic factors may also explain the absence of difference in species richness among our animal vectors. In the GNP, there has been a dramatic decline in large herbivores (16) mainly due to livestock grazing, habitat loss and intensive poaching (36). The small remaining deer populations are now limited to the less disturbed sites, where, consequently, herbivory pressure has been increasing.…”