Alborz Mountains Wildlife Adapt Migration Patterns to Climate Change

According to a recent study, the changing climate has significantly impacted the migration patterns of several large mammals in Iran's Alborz Mountains. Researchers from Shahid Beheshti University and Iran's Department of Environment analyzed 23 years of data on the migration patterns of Caspian red deer, wild goats, brown bears, and wild boars in the Central Alborz Protected Area (CAPA).

The study found that by 2025, deer were migrating two to three weeks earlier and in numbers more than three times greater than in the past. The populations of goats and boars also increased, with the animals migrating earlier than before. In contrast, brown bears showed considerably less change in their migration patterns.

The researchers attribute these shifts to the warming and drying of the climate, which has led to an increase in foliage in the CAPA region. This abundance of vegetation has drawn more herbivores to the area, altering their seasonal movements. The authors note that the timing of these migrations has also been affected by the changing climate.

Concerned by the heightened pressures these species face, the study's authors urge government officials and conservationists to work together to protect the Alborz Mountains' wildlife. One suggestion is to expand the boundaries of CAPA and reclassify it as a national park, providing these vulnerable mammals with a larger, well-protected habitat.