Tandooreh National Park In Iran, Iranian Leopards Haven

Tandooreh National Park In Iran and Protected Area is one of the natural attractions of Razavi Khorasan province that you may not have heard about. This area, which is one of the most natural nature reserves in the country and the paradise of Iranian leopards, is located on the road from Darghz to Qochan, and fortunately, it has remained unspoiled due to its hard and difficult path. This time we at Hey Persia blog are going to talk to you about Razavi Khorasan Tandooreh National Park and Protected Area. If you like in this topic, stay with us in the rest of the article.

Where is Tandooreh National Park and Protected Area?

Tandooreh National Park In Iran and Protected Area is located in the northeast of our country and near the border with Turkmenistan. This area, which has an area of about 44,000 hectares, is located in the catchment area of Harirood and Kashfroud and the sub-basin of the Drongar river, based on the division of the Tandooreh complex. Among the salient features of the Tandooreh National Park and Protected Area, we can point out the presence of deep and steep valleys along with its many horizontal hills. In the past, this area was a recreation area for residents of Darghz and Qochan cities.

History of Tandooreh National Park and Protected Area

The protected area of Tandooreh Darghaz had an area of about 73435 hectares and was as a protected area in February 1347. The name of this area was to Tandooreh Wildlife Park in 1348 and to National Park 5 years later. Today, Tandooreh Mountain National Park has an area of about 35,540 hectares. A small part of it with an area of 9250 hectares was as Tandooreh protected area in 1361. In the past, the road connecting Darges to Qochan passed through the Tandooreh National Park, and for this reason there are several historical monuments in that area. “Rajaba Castle” is one of the most famous ones, which dates back to before Islam. Rajaba Castle is one of the historical forts located in the protected area of Tandooreh and dates back to before Islam.

Climate of Tandooreh National Park and Protected Area

Tandooreh National Park In Iran is by two types of moderate to dry Mediterranean climate, and in its southern and western parts, the weather is relatively cold and humid, and in its northern parts, it is warm and a little dry. Its annual rainfall is to be around 250 to 300 mm and its amount is different in different seasons of the year. Sometimes, especially in winter, the temperature of the park reaches minus 20 and it is with snow for at least 4 months of the year. The climate of the protected area of Tandooreh is similar to the national park and the temperature of the coldest and hottest days is 2.5 to 26 degrees and the amount of rainfall is about 370 mm.

Animals of Tandooreh National Park and Protected Area

Iran has a total of 7 species of cats, of which 5 species, i.e. Iranian leopard, forest cat, prairie cat, Pallas cat and Eurasian lynx live in Tandooreh protected area. Tandooreh National Park and Protected Area, as mentioned, is the best habitat for the Iranian leopard. So that in 1370, 134 Iranian leopards lived in this area, but unfortunately, in 1387, their number decreased to 60. The main food of Iranian leopards is whole and goat, which are abundant in this region. All kinds of ungulates such as wild goats with herds of 100 to 150 heads and wild sheep, the purest breed of Orial rams and sheep, live in this park.

The number of its rams and ewes in 1356 was about 9 thousand heads, but today their number has decreased to 4 thousand heads. In the north of the protected area of Tandooreh you can see a lot of wild boars. In addition, among the animals of Tandooreh National Park are red fox, jackal, stone otter, hyena, rook and all kinds of rodents such as tailless rabbit.

Tandooreh protected area in terms of diversity of bird species

Migratory birds such as cuckoo, sargepe pabland, plains eagle, golden eagle, golden eagle, vulture, huma, lil, haq bird, Balochi nightingale, common puffin, mountain puffin, common bee-eater, hooded, ring-necked chekauk, khaki pepet and red-tailed stilt in a group in Beside native birds such as dulijah, partridge, tiho, pheasant, common quail, well dove, lunar, yakrim, horned chakauk, sky chakauk, wagtail, grebe, kestrel, starling, magpie, black-necked crow, ablaq crow, elikai, black touka, Mountain goldfinch, field goldfinch, all kinds of owls and red-breasted nightjars live in this area. In addition, 9 species of non-poisonous snakes, 4 species of semi-poisonous snakes, 5 species of poisonous snakes, 6 species of lizards and turtles have also been seen in this area.

Vegetation of Tandooreh National Park and Protected Area

Mashhad’s Tandooreh Protected Area is also known as the paradise of medicinal plants. In this region, 373 species from 60 different genera have been identified, the most important of which are trees such as kanaar, juniper, fig, willow, and plants such as nasturtium, wild tomato, kerko, darmene, goon, Mirhasan hat, barijeh, angouzeh, candle, black cumin, and flax. They are wild, thyme, types of gramine, wild cherry, clay milk, barberry, mountain pepper. The vegetation of Tandoora protected area is similar to its national park, and in it you can see various trees such as juniper, kerko, almond, wild fig, darmena, lamb’s grass, hairy wheat grass, goon, chai choban, serish and borage.

What is the distance from Mashhad to Tandooreh protected area?

The 35 thousand hectare Tandooreh National Park is located at a distance of 285 km from Mashhad, and to reach it, you have to pass through the cities of Golbahar, Chenaran, Qochan, Nokhandan and Derghz.

The best time to travel to Tandooreh National Park and Protected Area

Among the most important places to see are Tandooreh protected area, Cheholmir valley and Shamkhal. The best time to visit this vast area is spring and especially May. In the spring season, 31 springs flow in Tandooreh National Park and protected area, the most important of which are Cherlaq, Qara Loke, Raf Su, Chehlmir, Adana, Bash Tepe, Rajaba, Madkhan, Bid, Tandoora, Adana and Togi.

Fountain and well ring

There are more than 31 springs and 8 wells in the protected area of Tandooreh, Khorasan Darghaz province. In the protected area of Tandooreh, there are only Chehlmir, Anstan, Shokrab, Tivan, Drongar, Cherlaq and Ali Balag shrines, this area has no village and in the seasons when there is no rain, you can enter the park through its only connecting road.