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Safaei, M.; Kahrom, E.; Mohammad, M.
Study on the causes of wildlife mortality on the Asian road in Golestan National Park in Iran
2012 Wildlife Middle East (6): 14-14
This report studies the effects of road kills on wildlife within a 55 kilometer stretch of the Tehran-Mashhad road called the "Asian road". It is a 2 lane road which passes through "Golestan" national park, the oldest national park in Iran. The results are based on analysis of statistics of road kills during a 6 year period, between 2005 and 2010. The mortality of four different classes of wildlife was studies: mammals, birds and reptiles & amphibians. Cat species among the mammal casualties included 8 forest cats (_Felis chaus_), 7 wild cats (_Felis silvestris_) and 3 north Persian panther (_Panthera pardus saxicolor_). Panthers have the highest mortality rate in December. The most common panther casualties are either infant or immature individuals. It is suggested that inexperience after leaving their mother, together with an unfamiliar environment led these young individuals into trouble.
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