Biodiversity Conservation of Reptiles and Mammals in the Khorasan Provinces, Northeast of Iran

The reptile and mammals fauna of North-East of Iran were investigated and the contraction and fragmentation of some species due to climatic changes and human activities were analyzed. The sampling was carried out in selected stations throughout the Great Khorsan. The results showed that there are approximately 71 reptiles (including 39 species of lizards, 32 snakes and one turtle) and 83 species of mammals. The exact number of vulnerable and threatened reptile and mammal species in Khorasan provinces is not clear, but there are at least 33 reptiles and 10 mammals categorized as threatened species. The distribution and population size of some species has greatly changed during recent years, most probably as a result of recent global warming, i. e. temperature rise, decrease of precipitation, drought and human harmful activities. The human activity in this region, especially urbanization, agricultural activities and cutting of shrubs has caused fragmentation and serious decline of population size in some species and even elimination of some local endemic population of relict species. The conservation of mammals and reptiles in the North-East of Iran demands organized collaborations including education of native people for protection of valuable vertebrate faunae of the area.