ZAHEDAN, Nov. 11 (MNA) – Environment experts of Sistan and Baluchestan sighted for the very first time a rare species of long-eared owl in the no-hunting area of this province.
Iran has identified over 520 bird species where about 370 of them currently reside in Sistan and Baluchestan Province, located in the southeast of the country, bordering Pakistan and Afghanistan.


Director of Environmental Protection of Sistan and Baluchestan Saeid Mahmoudi expressed hope that with more facilities and habitats in the area, they could see the distribution of more new species in the province.


Mahmoudi attributed this species richness to geographical location and the proximity of this area to biogeographic regions.





The long-eared owl (Asio otus) breeds in Europe, Asia, and North America. It is 40 cm in length, and is partially migratory, moving south in winter from the northern parts of its temperate range. Its habitat is forest close to open country. Overall, these owls are secretive, and are rarely seen.


By Mehr News Agency





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