Release of Jebeer Deer in Nayband National Park

More than a dozen endangered jebeer deer have been reintroduced to their natural habitat in the Assaluyeh Nayband National Park.

The deer, totaling 15, were released on October 18th, 2022 with the presence of Mohammad-Reza Heidarzadeh, Executive Manager and Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Arya Sasol Polymer Company (ASPC), Gholamreza Abdali, Director General of the Environment Protection Bureau of Iran’s Environment Department, Hassan Akbari, Wildlife Deputy of the Environment Department, Gholinejad, Director General of the Environment Department in the Bushehr Province along with a number of local administrators of the Haleh and Nayband districts.

While congratulating Unity Week and the birth anniversary of the Prophet Mohammad and Imam Sadiq, Heidarzadeh pointed to the 5 past years of collaboration between the ASPC and the Environment Department seeking the preservation of the jebeer deer. “It should be noted out that the conservation of the jebeer deer in the Nayband National Park took place in the breeding and protection unit despite the dismal number of the endangered animal species. This is while the current number of deer being protected under the program exceeds 50, some of which we will witness their release in the ceremony,” he said.

Referring to some of the most important measures taken as part of the conservation effort, Heidarzadeh said: “the provision of a 10-man workforce with the aim of performing protection and care services, the construction of the environment protection outpost, construction of a solar power plant with a capacity of 18 kilowatts, fencing and continuous repairs, provision of motorcycles and the purchase of monitoring and protection equipment across the site, providing road access, the provision of water sources and the installation of surveillance and security cameras in different parts of the jebeer deer site are among the most important contributions of the ASPC to the project”.

The ASPC Executive Manager also pointed to the necessity of promoting a culture of environment protection as one of the components of the country’s natural resource sector development. “In order to develop a culture of environmental protection, the ASPC undertook the empowerment of local and host communities – with a focus on school students – through local non-governmental organizations (NGOs). This ensures the success of this project as a social responsibility project for all in the future,” he said.

Referring to the installation of relevant guide and warning signs across the conservation site, Heidarzadeh said: “Paving the way for the release of the jebeer deer in Nayband Marine National Park, studies were conducted with the support of Arya Sasol. Today we shall witness the release of this rare species based on scientific data and the expertise of environment conservation specialists”.

Also pointing to the ASPC coming first place in the Hatef National Award at the 5th National Summit of Social Responsibility and Organizational Culture, Heidarzadeh said: “We at Arya Sasol will endlessly continue our mission in fields of social responsibilities and related cultural and environmental policies, not only as a matter of social necessity, but as obligations stemming from our organizational duties and national identity in our regional societies,” he said.

It is worth noting that the Nayband National Park is located in the Assaluyeh district of the Bushehr province and that the habitat of this rare animal species is on the verge of destruction. Due to the collaboration of Iran’s Environment Department and the ASPC, the species’ relevant breeding and conservation site has witnessed an increase in reproduction, staving off the threat of their extinction. The release of the deer in the Nayband National Park will happen gradually in several stages, ensuring that the species remains far from extinction due to continuous and effective monitoring and protection.

The jebeer deer is an herbivore mammal that can move at speeds of up to 80 kilometers per hour. The most significant distinction between the jebeer and other deer species is that both males and female species have horns, relatively longer ears and tails along with smaller and more delicate bodies. The jebeer are timid towards humans. Their numbers are drastically decreasing in non-protected areas due to increased hunting, habitat destruction and drought.