The experience of saving the Iranian fallow deer can prevent extinction of other endangered species.

Fallow deer is one of rare species of fauna native to Iran. Its habitat is Karkheh and Dez, both in Khuzestan province. The fallow deer suddenly became extinct several decades ago due to a number of reasons including poaching. Strange as it may seem, only six fallow deer could be found in Iran. Fortunately after officials cautioned that the fallow deer was on the verge of extinction, necessary measures were taken to save this rare animal from disappearing altogether.
In 1957, environmental officials and enthusiasts realized that the number of fallow deer had declined sharply in Iran. After many years only six were found to be living, Persian daily ’Iran’ reported.
Fallow deer were transferred to Nazsari plains in Mazandaran province to facilitate breeding. At that time two fallow deer were transferred to Germany and no one knows what became of them.
Breeding fallow deer began in 1957 and a total of 400 were raised. Of course, Nazsari was not the only area for breeding fallow deer and a total of 300 are being bred in Ashk Island of Orumieh Lake which has the highest deer population.
Now, 50 years since the transfer of fallow deer to Mazandaran province from its original habitat, officials of the Department of Environment are trying to bring them back to its habitat in Khuzestan. This is an important event for the lovers of environment.
Director general for Khuzestan Department of Environment said that preparations to return Iranian fallow deer to Karkheh protected zone is in its final stage and the species will be returned to Khuzestan in September.
Hormuz Mahmoudi-Rad noted that returning the deer to Dez and Karkheh cost 2.1 billion rials while at least another 700 million rials will be required to complete the project.
“Of course, the plan to transfer this rare species was first supposed to be implemented over a 300-hectare area,“ he added.
However, Mahmoudi-Rad said that due to high cost in implementing the project and shortage of funds, the plan was executed over a 70-hectare area.
“Operations such as fencing the breeding site, preparing the land and clearing the protected zone of natural predators of fallow deer, including foxes and jackal are presently underway,“ he further said.
He noted that all these efforts are aimed at transferring fallow deer to its main habitat, Khuzestan and also promoting ecotourism in the region.
“A tourism site with arbor, camping area and sightseeing center will be built in the protected zone,“ he added.
Mahmoudi-Rad noted that gathering information about different species of fauna which are on the verge of extinction is essential since in the absence of such information the endangered species cannot be saved.
“The experience of saving Iranian fallow deer can prevent extinction of other endangered species,“ he further noted.
Mahmoudi-Rad asserted that officials of the Department of Environment are trying to gather comprehensive information about the endangered species.
An environmentalist, Najafi, says he and his colleagues are going to gather information about endangered species and hence prevent their extinction. Fallow deer was saved, but can other endangered species also be saved?

Choghazanbil ziggurat in Shoush, Khuzestan province

Choghazanbil ziggurat in Shoush, Khuzestan province, is the largest remnant from the Elamite era (2700-539 BC) which is among the three Iranian sites registered on the list of global heritage.
Choghazanbil Ziggurat is located 40 kilometers southeast of Shoush. A city known as ’Ziggurat’ was built in the early 13th century BC by an Elamite king named Untash Napirisha near Dez River and was called ’Dur Untash’ meaning ’Fort of Untash’.
Some hieroglyph texts have referred to it as ’Al Untash’, meaning Untash City.
In the middle of the city, a large temple known as ziggurat was constructed in the shape of a terraced pyramid of successively receding stories, of which only two stories are standing today.
Choghazanbil Ziggurat was built of brick and covers an area of 11,000 square meters.
Bricks with inscriptions in Elamite and Akkadian scripts featuring the names of kings involved in the construction of the monument are etched on the outer side of the ziggurat.
Choghazanbil was registered by UNESCO in 1979 because of its historical identity and tourist attractions.
Speaking to Iran Daily, Omid Ataeifard, a researcher on the ziggurat, said that archeologists believe that Iran is the origin of the first ziggurats in the world.
Despite damage to the ziggurat, it is still considered the biggest and most well-preserved ziggurat in the world, he said.
He further said that according Mohammad Karim Pirnia, a researcher on the Iranian architecture, the ziggurat was treated as a large ancient library since the beginning of the excavations because there are inscriptions on each row of bricks which, once deciphered, can provide a lot of information.
Commenting on the features of the ziggurat, Ataeifard noted that each tier begins from the ground-level instead of atop the lower one.
Another characteristic of the monument is the construction materials used. The mortar used in the edifice was of a specific type with maximum durability, he said. Other noticeable feature of the ziggurat is its water filtration system, which was pioneered by scientists in ancient Iran, he said.

Presidential advisor for artistic affairs has said that yet another request has been received from Oscar-winning film director Oliver Stone to make a film about the life of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
Javad Shamaqdari told Fars news agency that an email from Stone’s program director had referred to Ahmadinejad’s letter to the US’ nation and emphasized that such a film can pave the way for dialogue.
He further stated that he has submitted the letter to the president but he had no time to think about the proposal. “I think his opinion in this respect is the same as the one he expressed earlier,“ he said.
The president still insists that it is better for an Iranian director to undertake such a job.
However, an opportunity may also emerge for Oliver Stone in this respect, he said, adding that of course this depends on when the president has time to think about it.
In response to Fars’ view that Stone’s real intentions should be exposed, he said that no categorical response has yet been given to him. The films he has so far directed, even those disapproving of the US government, eventually turned to be at the service of the country’s ruling system.
In his recent film ’World Trade Center’, instead of making a film to expose the real objectives of the US, he is seen to be a servant of the Pentagon, Shamaqdari said.
If Stone makes a film portraying the main objective of creating the September 11 scenario, he may also get a chance to make a film about Ahmadinejad, he concluded.

An archeological official has described Soltanieh Dome, Zanjan province, as an artistic masterpiece dating back to the Ilkhanate era (1251-1335 AD) which also heralded renaissance in Iranian architecture.
Speaking to CHN, Director of Soltanieh Dome Cultural Heritage Base Mohammad Hassan Moheb-Ali added that the edifice was reconstructed following Mongolian invasion of Iran.
In constructing the monument, a special symmetry was maintained between the edifice and its surroundings, he said, adding, “It is for this reason we should do our best to protect the monument.“
Commenting on the history of repair works on the monument, he further said that restoration of the monument began in the 1960s and was resumed after the victory of the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Prior to the start of renovation works on the monument, research works on the edifice were conducted for several years.
Describing renovation of Soltanieh Dome as one of the important jobs undertaken until now, Moheb-Ali further stated that the first phase of the project will include a thorough study on reinforcing the edifice.
Safeguarding the threatened structures and clearing the site are among the works undertaken so far at the site, he said.
Meanwhile, some 16 rounds of excavations, which led to the discovery of structures pertaining to the dome, were also carried out.
Soltanieh Dome, a splendor of the world, was built 700 years ago in an area of 156 hectares in western Zanjan province.
The 54-meter high dome was registered on UNESCO heritage list in Durban, South Africa in June as the seventh Iranian cultural heritage site.

A Japanese university instructor is seeking to promote genuine Iranian music in his country.
According to IRNA, Masato Tani, author of the book ’Iranian Music’ recently published in Japan, said Friday that genuine Iranian music is a profound discipline and for this reason one should perceive its profundity so as to be able to grasp it completely.
The Osaka University lecturer further observed that if a person can comprehend the depth of Iranian music, he will come to conclude that the Iranian music is superior to its counterparts in the world.
Tani, who knows how to play the Iranian music instrument Santour, further said, “My interest in Iranian music dates back to the time I was a university student and originates from my enthusiasm in learning classical music in the world.
“Therefore, I decided to visit Iran in 1996 to learn Iranian music directly.“
He added, “During my stay, I participated in classes taught by noted Iranian musicians such as Hossein Dehlavi and Faramarz Paywar.“
Unlike European classical music, Iranian music is hard to learn in view of its impromptu nature and it is linked to the affable relationship between the maestro and the apprentice.
Commenting on his objective for publishing the 252-page book ’Iranian Music’ in his country, he further said that he wanted to make the Japanese people further acquainted with Iranian music. According to him, his book, which is in six chapters, is the first to deal with Iranian music in detail.
“In 1991, when I became familiar with Iranian music, I found no book or pamphlet about it in Japanese language,“ he said.
Nowadays, a book featuring Iranian music is not available in Japan, he said, adding “For the same reason, I decided to publish a book in the field.“
He said that in addition to publishing the book, he has also undertaken to perform Iranian music concerts in Japan. The number of Japanese interested in Iranian music has increased as several Japanese students are studying the music in Iranian universities, Tani concluded.