Parishan Lake is a lake in
Iran. The Parishan Lake is in
Jereh and Baladeh District in Fars Province and is the largest freshwater lake in the country.[2] It receives very small amount of water from feeder rivers and the whole lake or wetland is a protected area, as it is considered a globally significant wetland ecosystem.[3] Another lake in this area is that of Arzhan.[4] The whole protected area is called "Arzhan National Park."[5][6] This area is an important sanctuary for birds.[2][3]
In the past, the
Asiatic lion used to occur in this place, besides other parts of
Iran. Nowadays, in the
wilderness of
Eurasia, the only members of this race of lions occur in and around
Gir Forest, in
Kathiawar Peninsula, India.[7][8] A plan in 1977 to introduce Gir lions to the area around the lake did not eventually materialize. This area includes the
village of Arzhan, and is of agricultural importance, and bringing in lions would mean setting aside farmland, and settling farmers elsewhere.[5][6] This happens to be a reason why it is difficult to
reintroduce lions from Gir Forest to another place within India.[9] Nevertheless, Iran's intention to restore its population of lions would continue into the 21st century,[10][11] and in February 2019, Iran obtained a male named 'Kamran' from
Bristol Zoo in the United Kingdom,[12] followed in June by the acquisition of a female named 'Eilda' from
Dublin Zoo in Ireland, and lodged them at
Tehran Zoological Garden in a bid to reproduce and reintroduce lions in the wild.[13]
^
abHumphreys, P.; Kahrom, E. (1999).
"Lion". Lion and Gazelle: The Mammals and Birds of Iran. Avon: Images Publishing. pp. 77–80.
ISBN978-0951397763.
^
abFirouz, E. (2005).
"Lion". The complete fauna of Iran. London, New York: I. B. Tauris. p. 65.
ISBN978-1-85043-946-2.
^Heptner, V. G.; Sludskii, A. A. (1992) [1972].
"Lion". Mlekopitajuščie Sovetskogo Soiuza. Moskva: Vysšaia Škola [Mammals of the Soviet Union, Volume II, Part 2]. Washington DC: Smithsonian Institution and the National Science Foundation. pp. 83–95.
ISBN978-90-04-08876-4.