According to KhabarOnline, Masoumeh Safaei, the Deputy of the Wildlife Protection and Management Office of the Department of Environment, discussed the damage inflicted on wildlife during the attacks by the United States and the Israeli regime on Iran in an interview. She stated that, unlike animals kept in facilities, zoos, and wildlife clinics, the relocation of wild species in their natural habitats is not feasible, and protective measures similar to evacuating residential areas cannot be implemented for them.
She added that during the 40-day conflict, safety protocols were developed and communicated for wildlife facilities, including zoos and Pardisan Clinic, ensuring that animals were housed in areas away from glass and vulnerable points to minimize the risk of escape or injury in the event of an explosion.
Safaei noted that wild animals are naturally alert and tend to move away from danger when it arises. Although some casualties have been reported, providing accurate statistics on direct wildlife losses in nature is not possible. The Deputy of the Wildlife Protection and Management Office continued, stating that the Department of Environment has examined habitats exposed to bombardment and the species residing in these areas, drawing from a previous study conducted in Ukraine on the impacts of war on biodiversity.
She emphasized that, based on this assessment, over 80 percent of the country’s wildlife species, including common, protected, and endangered species, are at risk due to their habitats being within the range of attacks.
Safaei highlighted specific species whose habitats have been affected by the attacks, mentioning that, for instance, the habitat of the Persian leopard in certain areas has been compromised. Additionally, in the southern regions of the country, bombardment of marine areas could impact species such as dolphins, whales, and dugongs, all of which are either protected or endangered.
She stressed that while it can be confidently stated that these species are at risk, determining the exact number of affected or deceased animals in natural habitats is practically impossible due to environmental conditions and the vastness of the areas involved.
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