Species Richness, Threats and Conservation Status of Mammals of Touran National Park, Semnan province

Mammals are as one of the important species of arid environment and play a significant role in their stability and function in the ecosystem. Touran Biosphere Reserve is one of the representative reserves of cold winter deserts that has a high biodiversity of mammals. In this study, which lasted between 2018 and 2021, the mammal diversity and threats of Touran National Park, which is part of the Touran Biosphere Reserve, were investigated. According to the surveys, at least 29 mammal species are inhabiting the national park. Among the identified mammals, Asiatic Cheetah is critically endangered, Persian Wild Ass and Persian Leopard are endangered, Persian Goitered Gazelle, Wild Goat, and Urial Wild Sheep are vulnerable, and Sand Cat and Striped Hyaena are near threatened in the IUCN red list category. Four species of mammals in the national park, Persian Wild Ass, Asiatic Cheetah, Persian Leopard, and Caracal are in the Cites Appendix I, and Urial Wild Sheep, Wolf, Blanford’s Fox and Sand Cat are in the Cites Appendix II. According to the Department of the Environment laws, four mammals of Touran National Park are endangered and five species are protected. Touran National Park is one of the most important and few remaining habitats of Asiatic cheetah and Persian Wild Ass in the country, both of which are among the species with high conservation priority in the country due to their high evolutionary distinction. Therefore, more efforts are needed to study and protect this national park.