Research in Iran, 1990 and 1992: survey of arid zone Protected Areas, and study of geographic variation in gazelles
Blue Mosque (Masjid-i-Imam), Esfahan
Arachosians bring a camel to present to the Persian king (bas-relief, Persepolis). This may be the earliest evidence (±500 B.C.) of a domestic Bactrian camel
Once a vandal, always a vandal. The signature of Henry Morton Stanley, New York Herald, can be discerned scrawled on a plinth at Persepolis
1993 (with M.Karami). A mammal species new for Iran: Gazella
gazella Pallas, 1766 (Artiodactyla: Bovidae). J.Sci.I.R.Iran, 4:81-89.
The gazelles of Forrur
Island are G.gazella (or, better, G.muscatensis), but differ from
those of the Arabian peninsula; description of G.gazella dareshurii new
subspecies.
Chinkara (Gazella
bennetii, called Jebeer in Farsi), commonly said to be restricted in Iran
to the southeast, is actually widespread; the western and northern representatives
have probably been confused in the field with G.subgutturosa (Persian
or Goitred Gazelle, called Ahu in Farsi), because they are similar in colour.
Description of G.b.shikarii and karamii, new subspecies.
The former is named after Mr Jaffar
Shikari, Chief Game Guard of Bahram-e-Gour Protected Area, who represents all
that is best in the new environmentally committed cohort in Iran, despite his
son and brother having been killed by poachers.
Ahu (Gazella subgutturosa subgutturosa)
in Bamou Protected Area, near Shiraz.
Jebeer (Gazella bennetti shikarii) in Touran Protected Area, Northeastern Iran. Normally, when fleeing, jebeer make leaps (“stotting”), whereas ahu run flat out.
Persian Onager (Equus hemionus onager) in Touran.