The effect of ranger patrols on the sighting of large mammals by local herders in Northern Iran
Ranger patrols are essential for biodiversity conservation, particularly in protected areas where they help mitigate poaching of large mammals. Effective patrols reduce poaching and support higher population densities of large mammals. This study investigates the impact of ranger patrols on large ma...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Heliyon |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S240584402417483X |
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| author | Farid Salmanpour Zahra Shakoori Mahan Salmanpour Mehdi Tizrouyan Mehdi Kia Rahman Eshaghi Saeid Ghomi Abolfazl Rahbarizadeh Rahman Naeimaei Mehdi Ghaderi |
| author_facet | Farid Salmanpour Zahra Shakoori Mahan Salmanpour Mehdi Tizrouyan Mehdi Kia Rahman Eshaghi Saeid Ghomi Abolfazl Rahbarizadeh Rahman Naeimaei Mehdi Ghaderi |
| author_sort | Farid Salmanpour |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Ranger patrols are essential for biodiversity conservation, particularly in protected areas where they help mitigate poaching of large mammals. Effective patrols reduce poaching and support higher population densities of large mammals. This study investigates the impact of ranger patrols on large mammal sightings in the Central Alborz Protected Area (CAPA), northern Iran, a crucial wildlife corridor with UNESCO-listed Hyrcanian forests and high-altitude grasslands. CAPA also supports livestock grazing in over 200 villages, making it a key area for studying human-wildlife interactions. Data were gathered using semi-structured questionnaires from local herders, whose observations provide valuable insights into wildlife presence and the effectiveness of ranger patrols. The study area was divided into 5 × 5 km grid cells to ensure uniform data collection. Results show that large mammal sightings decrease with increasing distance from active, semi-active, and seasonal ranger stations. This trend is likely due to reduced patrol coverage, which increases poaching risks. Although factors such as habitat preferences and human disturbances may contribute. Inactive ranger stations appear to have lost effectiveness, likely because of the lack of regular patrols, which warrants further investigation. These findings emphasize the critical role of consistent patrol efforts in reducing poaching and maintaining wildlife populations in this ecologically important region. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-b7e736563a7743d5b0f1ebf3604a5a88 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2405-8440 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Heliyon |
| spelling | doaj-art-b7e736563a7743d5b0f1ebf3604a5a882025-01-17T04:51:19ZengElsevierHeliyon2405-84402025-01-01111e41452The effect of ranger patrols on the sighting of large mammals by local herders in Northern IranFarid Salmanpour0Zahra Shakoori1Mahan Salmanpour2Mehdi Tizrouyan3Mehdi Kia4Rahman Eshaghi5Saeid Ghomi6Abolfazl Rahbarizadeh7Rahman Naeimaei8Mehdi Ghaderi9Department of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Management, Environmental Sciences Research Institute, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran; Corresponding author.Department of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Management, Environmental Sciences Research Institute, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, IranDepartment of Natural Resources – Environment Islamic Azad University, Science and Research Branch, Tehran, IranDepartment of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Management, Environmental Sciences Research Institute, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, IranDepartment of Environment, Mazandaran Provincial Office, Mazandaran, IranDepartment of Environment, Mazandaran Provincial Office, Mazandaran, IranDepartment of Environment, Mazandaran Provincial Office, Mazandaran, IranDepartment of Environment, Mazandaran Provincial Office, Mazandaran, IranDepartment of Environment, Mazandaran Provincial Office, Mazandaran, IranDepartment of Environment, Mazandaran Provincial Office, Mazandaran, IranRanger patrols are essential for biodiversity conservation, particularly in protected areas where they help mitigate poaching of large mammals. Effective patrols reduce poaching and support higher population densities of large mammals. This study investigates the impact of ranger patrols on large mammal sightings in the Central Alborz Protected Area (CAPA), northern Iran, a crucial wildlife corridor with UNESCO-listed Hyrcanian forests and high-altitude grasslands. CAPA also supports livestock grazing in over 200 villages, making it a key area for studying human-wildlife interactions. Data were gathered using semi-structured questionnaires from local herders, whose observations provide valuable insights into wildlife presence and the effectiveness of ranger patrols. The study area was divided into 5 × 5 km grid cells to ensure uniform data collection. Results show that large mammal sightings decrease with increasing distance from active, semi-active, and seasonal ranger stations. This trend is likely due to reduced patrol coverage, which increases poaching risks. Although factors such as habitat preferences and human disturbances may contribute. Inactive ranger stations appear to have lost effectiveness, likely because of the lack of regular patrols, which warrants further investigation. These findings emphasize the critical role of consistent patrol efforts in reducing poaching and maintaining wildlife populations in this ecologically important region.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S240584402417483XRanger stationHuntingDensityCentral alborzLarge mammal |
| spellingShingle | Farid Salmanpour Zahra Shakoori Mahan Salmanpour Mehdi Tizrouyan Mehdi Kia Rahman Eshaghi Saeid Ghomi Abolfazl Rahbarizadeh Rahman Naeimaei Mehdi Ghaderi The effect of ranger patrols on the sighting of large mammals by local herders in Northern Iran Heliyon Ranger station Hunting Density Central alborz Large mammal |
| title | The effect of ranger patrols on the sighting of large mammals by local herders in Northern Iran |
| title_full | The effect of ranger patrols on the sighting of large mammals by local herders in Northern Iran |
| title_fullStr | The effect of ranger patrols on the sighting of large mammals by local herders in Northern Iran |
| title_full_unstemmed | The effect of ranger patrols on the sighting of large mammals by local herders in Northern Iran |
| title_short | The effect of ranger patrols on the sighting of large mammals by local herders in Northern Iran |
| title_sort | effect of ranger patrols on the sighting of large mammals by local herders in northern iran |
| topic | Ranger station Hunting Density Central alborz Large mammal |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S240584402417483X |
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