Orumiyeh, W Azarbaijan Prov, Jan 14, IRNA � An official at the environment Department of West Azarbaijan Province said destruction of natural habitats has reduced the number of panthers in this northwestern province.
Speaking to IRNA, Omid Yousefi said West Azarbaijan with regard to its rich habitats and high biodiversity is among the most important habitats of the cat species whose number has reduced in recent years due to different reasons.
He said the number of Iranian panther which in the list of IUCN (the International Union for Conservation of Nature) is among the endangered species has dramatically reduced as such that at present in the entire West Azarbaijan province there is the possibility of the existence of this valuable species only in the protected Marakan region of Khoy.

He said bodies of different species of sheep have been found in the area by the officials of environment protection unit which prove that the Iranian panther has fed on the livestock.

However, he added, as the animal comes out of its hiding at night there is no image available of it in Marakan protected area.

The length of the body of the Iranian panther is between 160 to 1880 cm and the length of its tail is 110 cm. It weighs up to 90 kg and its height up to the shoulders is 75 cm.

By IRNA

 

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