Lake Parishan

An old photograph of a lion in Iran by Antoin Sevruguin, c. 1880

Designations

Ramsar Wetland

Official name| Lake Parishan and Dasht-e-Arjan
Designated| 23 June 1975
Reference no.| 37[1]

Lake Parishan (Persian: دریاچه پریشان) is a lake in Iran. The Parishan Lake is in Jereh and Baladeh District in Fars Province and is the largest freshwater lake in the country.[2] It receives very small amount of water from feeder rivers and the whole lake or wetland is a protected area, as it is considered a globally significant wetland ecosystem.[3] Another lake in this area is that of Arzhan.[4] The whole protected area is called "Arzhan National Park."[5][6] This area is an important sanctuary for birds.[2][3]

In the past, the Asiatic lion used to occur in this place, besides other parts of Iran. Nowadays, in the wilderness of Eurasia, the only members of this race of lions occur in and around Gir Forest, in Kathiawar Peninsula, India.[7][8] A plan in 1977 to introduce Gir lions to the area around the lake did not eventually materialize. This area includes the village of Arzhan, and is of agricultural importance, and bringing in lions would mean setting aside farmland, and settling farmers elsewhere.[5][6] This happens to be a reason why it is difficult to reintroduce lions from Gir Forest to another place within India.[9] Nevertheless, Iran's intention to restore its population of lions would continue into the 21st century,[10][11] and in February 2019, Iran obtained a male named 'Kamran' from Bristol Zoo in the United Kingdom,[12] followed in June by the acquisition of a female named 'Eilda' from Dublin Zoo in Ireland, and lodged them at Tehran Zoological Garden in a bid to reproduce and reintroduce lions in the wild.[13]

## See also[edit]

* Kazerun
* Maharloo Lake
* Wildlife of Iran

## References[edit]

1. ^ "Lake Parishan and Dasht-e-Arjan". Ramsar Sites Information Service. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
2. ^ a b "Dasht-e Arjan and Lake Parishan (Important Birds Areas of Iran, Islamic Republic of)". BirdLife International. Retrieved 8 September 2010.
3. ^ a b "Iranian Wetlands Conservation Project – Lake Urmia and Lake Parishan – Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT)". WWT. Archived from the original on 5 December 2010. Retrieved 8 September 2010.
4. ^ FARS Geography and History
5. ^ a b Humphreys, P.; Kahrom, E. (1999). "Lion". Lion and Gazelle: The Mammals and Birds of Iran. Avon: Images Publishing. pp. 77–80. ISBN 978-0951397763.
6. ^ a b Firouz, E. (2005). "Lion". The complete fauna of Iran. London, New York: I. B. Tauris. p. 65\. ISBN 978-1-85043-946-2.
7. ^ Heptner, V. G.; Sludskii, A. A. (1992) [1972]. "Lion". Mlekopitajuščie Sovetskogo Soiuza. Moskva: Vysšaia Škola [Mammals of the Soviet Union, Volume II, Part 2]. Washington DC: Smithsonian Institution and the National Science Foundation. pp. 83–95. ISBN 978-90-04-08876-4.
8. ^ Singh, H. S.; Gibson, L. (2011). "A conservation success story in the otherwise dire megafauna extinction crisis: The Asiatic lion (Panthera leo persica) of Gir forest" (PDF). Biological Conservation. 144 (5): 1753–1757. doi:10.1016/j.biocon.2011.02.009.
9. ^ Johnsingh, A.J.T. (2006). "Kuno Wildlife Sanctuary ready to play second home to Asiatic lions?". Field Days: A Naturalist's Journey Through South and Southeast Asia. Hyderabad: Universities Press. pp. 126–138. ISBN 8173715521.
10. ^ Dey, A. (16 July 2009). "Rajasthan to be home for cheetahs". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 24 October 2012. Retrieved 9 August 2009.
11. ^ Khosravifard, S. (22 May 2010). "Russia, Iran exchange tigers for leopards but some experts express doubts". Payvand News. Archived from the original on 15 October 2020. Retrieved 6 August 2011.
12. ^ Amlashi, Hamid (5 February 2019). "Return To Motherland: Asiatic lion returns to Iran after 80 years". Tehran Times. Retrieved 14 October 2019.
13. ^ "From Dublin to Tehran: Persian Lioness Joins Male Companion". Iran Front Page. 4 June 2019. Retrieved 14 October 2019.

29°30′53″N 51°47′33″E﻿ / ﻿29.51472°N 51.79250°E﻿ / 29.51472; 51.79250

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* t
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Protected Areas of Iran

National Parks|

* Bakhtegan (IW)
* Bamou
* Bojagh (IW)
* Dayer-Nakhiloo
* Ghamishloo
* Ghatroyeh
* Golestan (BR)
* Kavir (BR)
* Khabr
* Khojir
* Kiasar
* Kolahghazi
* Lar
* Nayband
* Paband
* Salouk
* Sarigol
* Siyahkooh
* Sorkh-e Hesar
* Tandooreh
* Tang-e Sayad
* Khar Turan (BR)
* Lake Urmia (BR, IW)

National Natural Monuments|

* Alam-Kuh
* Damavand
* Sabalan
* Sarv-e Abarkuh
* Taftan

Wildlife Refuges|

* Amirkalayeh (IW)
* Bakhtegan (IW)
* Hamoon
* Miandasht
* Miankaleh (BR, IW)
* Robat Shur
* Selkeh (IW)
* Shadegan (IW)
* Shidvar (IW)
* Sorkhankol (IW)
* Touran (BR)

Protected Areas|

* Alvand
* Arasbaran (BR)
* Arjan and Parishan (BR, IW)
* Dena
* Dinar Kouh
* Gando (IW)
* Geno (BR)
* Hara (BR, IW)
* Haraz
* Heleh (IW)
* Jajrud
* Kabir Kouh
* Karkas
* Karkheh
* Kavir (BR)
* Koulak
* Manesht
* Mianjangal
* Mozaffari
* Siahkeshim (IW)
* Touran (BR)

BR: Biosphere Reserve \- IW: International Wetland (Ramsar Site) \- All names as inscribed by the Department of Environment, Iran
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