Journal of Natural Environment

Assessing habitat conditions, challenges and management measures for Persian fallow deer, Dama dama mesopotamica Brooke, 1875 in the dry provinces of Iran

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Faculty of Natural Resources and Marine Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University (TMU), Noor, Iran.

2 Conservation Biogeography Lab, Department of Geography, Humboldt University of Berlin, Berlin, Germany.

3 Department of Wildlife Management, Faculty of Fisheries and Environmental Sciences, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources (GUASNR), Gorgan, Iran.

4 Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad (FUM), Mashhad, Iran.

10.22059/jne.2024.370761.2639

Abstract

Distribution of Persian fallow deer (Dama dama mesopotamica Brooke, 1875) as an endangered species is limited to captive breeding sites in Iran for more than six decades. The conservation program was relatively effective in some sites, but unsuccessful in other sites. This research aimed to evaluate habitat conditions, challenges, solutions, human-induced and environmental threats, as well as management efficiency in fallow deer breeding sites in three provinces including Ilam, Fars and Yazd using a combined methodology. Data were collected during two years of field surveys in the regions and in provincial offices. Challenges were observed in two major groups, habitat threats (small area of sites, resource poverty and environmental crises), and population threats (predation, male conflict, disease and inappropriate population structure) which was not significant despite the positive correlation (P-value>0.27). The average level of threats around the sites was high. The level of environmental and human-induced threats was estimated 52% and 55% in Arjan and Parishan protected areas, 43% and 50% in Manasht and Ghalarang, 41% and 56% in Koh Khom, and 29% and 47% in Bagh-e Shadi, respectively. The management effectiveness in all protected areas was at a basic level with many limitations. Management opportunity scores were 50% in Ilam and Arsanjan, 46% in Bagh-e Shadi and 44% in Arjan and Parishan protected areas. Suitable solutions involve site area expansion, vegetation restoration, establishing standard feed mangers and water troughs, establishing an earthen pond or reservoir for swimming and repelling annoying insects, providing supplemental food, controlling predators, improvement demographic structure with appropriate sex and age ratios, educating local communities, keeping livestock away for preventing disease transmission, installing closed-circuit television cameras, improving conservation level in protected areas, and releasing in the wild, which is the ultimate goal of breeding in captivity.

Keywords

Cathey, J.C., Persyn, R.A., Porter, D.O., Dozier, M.C., Meck, M., Kniffen, B., 2006. Harvesting Rainwater for wildlife. Agrilife extension. Texas A & M University System, 16 p.
Clutton-Brock, T.H., Iason, G.R., 1986. Sex ratio variation in mammals. The Quarterly Review of Biology 61(3), 339-374.
Couchman, R.C., 1980. Deer farming in Australia. Animal production in Australia. http://www.asap.asn.au/livestock library/1980/Couchman80.pdf
Department of environment (DoE), Fars Province, Iran., 2019. Determining food carrying capacity for Persian Fallow deer in Arsanjan site, Fars province. 55 p. (In Persian)
Department of Environment (DoE), Fars Province, Iran., 2007. Preparation of habitat and species management plan for Persian fallow deer in Fars province. 330 p. (In Persian)
Department of Environment (DoE), Fars Province, Iran., 1999. Recognizing and restoring the natural environment, studying endanger species of plants and animals. 20 p. (In Persian)
Department of Environment (DoE), Fars Province, Iran., 2012. Reviewing and updating the detailed studies of Arjan and Parishan Protected Area Management Plan. 267 p. (In Persian)
Department of Environment (DoE), Fars Province, Iran., 2021. The simultaneous reproduction and restoration of Persian fallow deer and wild sheep species in Arjan-Perishan protected area with the approach of re-introducing the species to nature. 12 p. (In Persian)
Department of Environment (DoE), Tehran, Iran. 2013. A revised report on the status and organizing program for herbivores’ captive breeding sites. 28 p. (In Persian)
Department of Environment (DoE), Tehran, Iran. 2015. Management strategy and population improvement of Persian fallow deer, 150 p. (In Persian)
Department of Environment (DoE), Yazd Province, Iran., 2018. A report on Baghe Shadi protected area. 2 p. (In Persian)
Department of Environment (DoE), Yazd Province, Iran., 2010. Explanatory studies of Baghe Shadi Protected Area Management Plan, Report No. 4, Climate and Weather. 84 p. (In Persian)
Department of Environment (DoE), Yazd Province, Iran., 2012. Environmental planning of Baghe Shadi protected area, 180 p. (In Persian)
Drew, K.R., Bai, Q., Fadeev, E.V., 1989. Deer farming in Asia. In R. J. Hudson, K. R. Drew, & Baskin, L. M. (Eds.), Wildlife production systems (pp. 334-345). Cambridge University Press.
Elmore, D., 2018. Frequently asked wildlife management questions. Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service.
Fennessy, P.F., Taylor, P.G., 1989. Deer farming in Oceania. In R.J. Hudson, K.R. Drew, & L.M. Baskin (Eds.), Wildlife production systems: Economic utilization of wild ungulates. Cambridge University Press. 469 p.
Ghadimi, M., Hosseini, S.M., Pourghasemi H.R., Moradi, H.R., 2011. Protection Modeling of Manesht and Ghalarang Protected Areas Using Fuzzy logic. Environmental Sciences 8(1), 85-106.
Hidalgo-Mihart, M.G., Jesús-de la Cruz, A., Bravata-de la Cruz, Y., Contreras-Moreno, F. M., 2024. Activity patterns and use of artificial water ponds by White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in western Campeche. THERYA 15(1), 123-131.
Hopf, Y.M., Francis, J., Helms, P.J., Haughney, J., Bond, C., 2016. Core requirements for successful data linkage: an example of a triangulation method. BMJ Open 6, e011879.
Hutton, J.M., Leader-Williams, N., 2003. Sustainable use and incentive-driven conservation: Realigning human and conservation interests. Oryx 37(2), 215-226.
Iran Deserts Group (IDG), 2011. Protected areas of Iran, Manasht and Ghalarang protected areas.
Iranian Rainwater Catchment Systems Association (IRCSA), 2015. Study of drought impacts on biodiversity of Lake Urmia islands and alternative solutions of water supply. 125 p. (In Persian)
Kirkpatrick, R.C., Emerton, L., 2010. Killing tigers to save them: Fallacies of the farming argument. Conservation Biology 24(3), 655-659.
Krisna, P.A., Supriatna, J., Suparmoko, M., Garsetiasih, R., 2020. Sustainability of Timor Deer in Captivity: Captive Breeding Systems in West Java, Indonesia. Tropical Conservation Science 13, 1-12.
Landete-Castillejos T., Gallego, L., Estevez, J., Garcia, A., Fierro, Y., 2010. Fencing of game estates in Spain considered as management unit. In: Chapman, N. G. & Hecker, K. (eds.): Proceedings of the International Symposium “Enclosures: a Dead-End?” Sopron, Hungary, 2008, 68 p.
Leverington, F., Hockings, M., Costa, K.L., 2008. Management effectiveness evaluation in protected areas: a global study: report for the project "Global study into management effectiveness evaluation of protected areas", The University of Queensland, Gatton, IUCN WCPA, TNC, WWF, AUSTRALIA. 70 p.
Mandujano, S., Gonza´ lez-Zamora, A., 2009. Evaluation of natural conservation areas and wildlife management units to support minimum viable populations of white-tailed deer in Mexico. Tropical Conservation Science 2(2), 237-250.
Mertens, D.M., Hesse-Biber, S.N., 2012. Triangulation and Mixed Methods, Research. Journal of Mixed Methods Research 6(2), 75-79.
Moleong L.J., 2018. Qualitative Research Methods, Revised Edition. Remaja Rosdakarya Ltd., Bandung.
Ralls, K., Ballou JD., 2013. Captive breeding and reintroduction. In: Samuel MS (eds). Encyclopedia of Biodiversity (Second Edition). Elsevier, United States of America.
Rasyidi, G., Ulasaswini A.A., Karno K., 2022. Study of timor deer behavior at the exit conservation location of cakura village, takalar regency. International journal of multidisciplinary research and analysis 5(8), 2181-2187.
Shappell, S.A., Wiegmann, D. A., 2000. The human factors analysis and classification system--HFACS.
Skonhoft, A., Veiberg V., Gauteplass A., Olaussen J.O., Meisingset E.L., Mysterud A., 2013. Balancing income and cost in red deer management. Journal of Environmental Management 115, 179-188
Smith, G. F., O’Donoghue, P., O’Hora, K., Delaney, E., 2011. Best practice guidance for habitat survey and mapping. Heritage Council, Kilkenny.
Stolton, S., Dudley, N., Hockings, M., 2021. METT Handbook: A guide to using the Management Effectiveness Tracking Tool (METT). Second edition guidance for using METT-4. WWF, Gland, Switzerland. 89 p.
Stolton, S., Hockings, M., Dudley N., Mackinnon, K., Whitten, T., Leverington, F., 2007. Management effectiveness tracking tool reporting progress at protected area sites: second edition, published by WWF International, 22 p.
Thamhain, H.J., 2014. Assessing the effectiveness of quantitative and qualitative methods for R&D project proposal evaluations. Engineering Management Journal 26(3), 3-12
Woodford, K.B., Dunning, A., 1992. Production cycles and characteristics of rusa deer in Australia. In R. D. Brown (Ed.), The biology of deer (pp. 197-202). Springer-Verlag.
Zeder, M.A., 2008. Domestication and early agriculture in the Mediterranean Basin: Origins, diffusion, and impact. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 105(33), 11597-11604.
 Zidon, R., Saltz, D., Shore, L.S., Motro, U., 2009. Behavioral changes, stress, and survival following reintroduction of Persian fallow deer from two breeding facilities. Conservation biology: the journal of the Society for Conservation Biology 23(4), 1026-1035.
Journal of Natural Environment
Volume 77, Ecology and Biodiversity Management
July 2024
Pages 223-235