Identifying habitat blocks and corridors for the Iranian black bear (Ursus thibetanus gedrosianus) in Hormozgan province

Iranian black bear (Ursus thibetanus gedrosianus) (IBB) is a critically endangered subspecies in southeastern Iran which is threatened by population decline and habitat fragmentation. This study was carried out with the aim of identifying habitat blocks, habitat patches and habitat corridors of the IBB in Hormozgan province. Field survey was conducted to assess habitat blocks. Habitat modeling was carried out by using MaxEnt and habitat patches and habitat corridors were modelled by using CorridorDesigner. 9 habitat blocks were identified for the IBB in Hormozgan province. The largest population patch of the IBB was about 1041 km2 that covered the most important habitat block (i.e. Bashagard area). Habitat blocks of Bashagard area and Rudan area are linked by the most important and almost the highest length of corridor with about 70 km. Although the density of roads in the all habitat corridors was low (27.73 m/km2), most of habitat corridors were crossed by roads and roads create insecure condition for IBB movement through habitat corridors. Stepping stones, as the cover area for the IBBs, created 13% proportion of all habitat corridors. Conservation of main habitat blocks as well as habitat corridors of this endangered subspecies in Hormozgan province should be taken into consideration by the Department of Environment in Iran.