Sand Caspian seals show was held to celebrate International Year of Biodiversity in Babolsar, northern Iran. A total of 15 seal statues were constructed during a festival at the sea shore.

Mojtaba Ramzi, ICS volunteer who designs animal statues professionally, developed the seals based on New Art approach to attract visitor’s attention toward the endangered status of the Caspian seals in the region. As the only mammal in Caspian Sea, the seals have experienced a severe decline in number during the past decade, mainly in northern sea. However, they are subject to regular killing by local fishermen in south at the Iranian shores.

Caspian seal group was successful to increase people’s awareness about these creatures, as an educational brochure was distributed beside the festival. Interestingly, even most of local visitors were not aware that such a mammal exists in their shores, except some fishermen.

On the 2^nd day of the festival, the statuses became destroyed due to wind and kid’s playing which indicated their fragile situation for the people. Ramzi added “our goal was to show the people how much the Caspian seals are endangered of extinction”. He won the festival special award due to emphasis on importance of biodiversity in his art designs.

The Caspian seal show was part of 2 days National Festival for Sand Statues in Babolsar in early August 2010.  

In order to spread knowledge about the Persian leopard in Iran as well as abroad, a collection of papers and articles about the creature has been established on the ICS website. It is comprised of more than 30 documents published by various authors on different ecological aspects of the Persian leopard which can be downloaded as PDF. Less than 10 papers have been compiled by the Iranian authors which emphasizes on necessity of more attention by the Iranian scientific community to study and conserve this large cat.

The Persian Leopard Library is part of the ongoing programs by the Iranian Cheetah Society (ICS) to celebrate 2010 as the Year of Leopard in Iran. The library is accessible through here.

In order to celebrate the year of leopard aiming at more conservation support for the Iranian wildlife, the Iranian Cheetah Society (ICS) has various programs, including training workshops for university students for increasing awareness about Iran

Despite of numerous disappointing news in the world of wildlife conservation; however, there is an exciting news of emergence of a new cheetah which plays theater. The cheetah was designed by the ICS Wildlife Theater Group as a part of long-term educational initiatives launched since establishment in 2001. Since last March, 15 volunteers were trained to be ready for upcoming opportunities to spread the cheetah knowledge.

The theater illustrates various aspects of the cheetah life for public and how different threats can endanger its survival. Poaching is on top for the theater with several stories on the scene.

The process was funded by PBNF/the Netherlands and it is planned to be implemented in more than 10 local communities around the cheetah habitats across the country. Early June, villages in southern Kavir National Park where are supposed to be active for poaching hosted the first local implementation, highly welcomed by local people. The ICS