Yasaman Khorsandian Section B October 7, 2016 PERSIAN FALLOW DEER GRANT PROPOSAL ABSTRACT The Persian Fallow Deer, also known as the Mesopotamian Fallow Deer is an endangered animal on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. This organism faces the risk of annihilation due to habitat destruction, intense hunting pressure, and competition with livestock (Werner, 2016). This proposal describes the optimal solution to this problem. Our conservation facility will be established in the only country in the world where these deer still roam freely, in order to protect them from all of the dangers that previously threatened their lives; we will also increase the deer population and their chance of survival in their natural habitat by breeding more deer and preparing them for reintroduction back into the wild. This facility is exceptionally cost effective (approximately $100,000), and is capable of saving this organism from extinction. This innovative design, which is sponsored and supported by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, will also function as a zoo and a tourist attraction in order to educate people about these deer and also entertain the public to fund future facilities for other endangered species (Saving, 2015). BACKGROUND INFORMATION Dama mesopotamica, also known as the Persian Fallow deer, is an endangered animal on the IUCN red list. This organism can be found in tamarisk, oak, and pistachio woodlands, and it
favors inhabiting dense thicket areas alongside rivers, away from roads, settlements, and humans (Dama). The latest studies from 2013 show that all of the free individuals of this specie live in 14 sites in Iran. Additionally, there are about 160 more Persian Fallow Deer living in various zoos across the world, mainly in Europe. The only other known captive population of these deer, about 270 individuals, inhabit the Hai-Bar Carmel Reserve, the biblical Zoo of Jerusalem (Werner, 2016). Numerous conservation attempts have been made since 1960, when the first wildlife refuges for this type of deer were created to prevent their extinction. The first successful attempt took place in 1964, when individuals were captured and bred in order to increase their population; such endeavors continue to this day. For example, the Hai-Bar Carmel Facility breeds and reintroduces the Persian Fallow Deer into the wild (Persian). Moreover, other attempts have proven to be effective in helping similar organisms increase their population. For example, one study on zebras in Africa, who had a very similar diet to the Persian Fallow Deer, showed that the removal of cattle from the zebras habitat and eliminating their main competitor for food increased their population by 46% (Young, Palmer, & Gadd, 2005). Even though such efforts continue the conservation of the deer, much more work needs to be done until the Mesopotamian Fallow Deer is completely safe from extinction. THE SOLUTION The innovative plan to save D. mesopotamica is to build reservations in which more deer can be bred. Unlike previous conservation attempts, this facility will prepare the deer to compete with other animals after their reintroduction to their natural habitat. In order to do so, the conservation facility will be established on 1,500 acres of land in Northern parts of Iran, the only
country in the world where the Persian Fallow Deer roam freely (Werner, 2016). This reservation will replicate the deer s natural habitat as closely as possible to increase their chances of survival once they are released into the wild. Furthermore, this reservation will be guarded by fences on all sides in order to prevent the interference of any humans other than the volunteers. This precautionary measure will also protect the deer from one of their main threats, hunters. Other major threats to D. mesopotamica are lack of fresh water, habitat destruction, and increasing levels of tick infestation, which will not be problems at these conservation facilities because the animals will be provided a source of clean water in a nutrient rich woodland, and a volunteer veterinarian will be examining the deer on a monthly basis to ensure their wellbeing (Werner, 2016). Another critical threat to the Persian Fallow Deer is their competition with livestock (Dama). To overcome this obstacle, these organisms will be cohabiting with cattle, in order to compete for food in a controlled environment. This rivalry will teach the deer how to obtain their own food in the wild and increase their chances of survival. Furthermore, this facility will also be functioning as a zoo, which will be another source of income that will allow us to open more reservations for different kinds of animals. Thus, not only is the conservation facility saving an endangered animal from extinction, but it will also prevent deforestation, and will be a source of income and a tourist attraction for its host country. THE PATH This advantageous solution to the potential extinction of an endangered animal will not be easy to accomplish, which is why the help of a professional team is a necessity. Our team will consist of one environmental engineer to devise the best design for the facility that prepares the deer for their life in the wild, one materials science engineer to choose the most suitable and cost
effective materials to construct and maintain the facility, one quality control engineer to ensure that the facility completely protects the deer from any life-threatening dangers, and about ten construction workers to make the engineers plan come to life. First and foremost, the 1,500 acres of land must be obtained in the Northern parts of Iran to establish this reservation. In order to do so, the Iranian and local government must grant our organization permission to use the land to breed and raise animals. By the time the land is obtained, our team will have finished the design of the reservation. As the workers build the facility by replicating the deer s natural habitat, our team will use the help of the locals to find and capture the parent deer that will produce the next generations of D. mesopotamica. After their capture, the deer will be taken to the reservation, and following a brief convalescence, the breeding process will begin. As more generations of the Mesopotamian Fallow Deer are produced, their ability to compete with livestock will be improved. Therefore, the deer will be reintroduced back into the wild with a much greater chance of survival than any other facilities devoted to this species. One of the main challenges for this plan is the cost. The facility will be protected by a fence that will cost about $5000, and the water will be provided from a natural source (Backyard, 2016). Subsequently, the plant life that meets the needs of the Persian Fallow Deer must be chosen, which is constituted by pistachio, oak, and tamarisk trees. One hundred trees of each kind will cost approximately $5,000 (Bushes, 2016). In addition, pasture seed must be planted throughout the whole reservation, which will cost about $102,000 (Seeding, 2016). Considering that the engineers, workers, and veterinarians will all be volunteers, the total cost of one reservation will be approximately $122,000, excluding the price of the land. The price of this project is relatively insignificant compared to the number of animals that will be saved from
extinction. The project will be funded by direct donations, governmental grants, and volunteer organizations such as National Wildlife Federation and Earth Day Network. It is important to note that these reservations will also be functioning as a zoo that will allow people to see the Persian Fallow Deer, and the safari trips will also allow them to experience a more hands-on volunteering opportunity. Hence, the reservation will be making money by itself, but since we are a non-profit organization, this money will go towards the next facilities that will be built all over the world for different species of endangered animals.
REFERENCES Saving species. (2015). Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Retrieved September 17, 2016, from http://azaanimals.org/savingspecies Backyard X-Scrapes (2016). Home Depot. Retrieved September 18, 2016, from http://www.homedepot.com/p/backyard-x-scapes-6-ft-x-15-ft-reed-fencing-4-pack- HDD-BIN-RF01-4/100664722 Bushes and Shrubs. Nature Hills (2016).18 September 2016. Retrieved September 18, 2016, from http://www.naturehills.com/bushes-and-shrubs Dama mesopotamica. (n.d.) In Encyclopedia of Life. Retrieved September 17, 2016, from http://eol.org/pages/308402/details Persian Fallow Deer. (n.d.) Wildscreen Arkive. Retrieved September 16, 2016, from http://www.arkive.org/persian-fallow-deer/dama-mesopotamica/image-g82138.html Seeding rates for tall fescue lawns. (2014). Fescue. Retrieved September 18, 2016, from http://fescue.com/seeding/#.v-uzapmrlfa Werner, N.Y., Rabiei, A., Saltz, D., Daujat, J. & Baker, K. (2016). Dama mesopotamica. The International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources Red List Threatened Species. Retrieved September 15, 2016, from http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/full/6232/0#end_uses Young, T.P., Palmer, T.M., and Gadd, M.E. (2005) Competition and compensation among cattle, zebras, and elephants in a semi-arid savanna in Laikipia, Kenya [Abstract]. Biological Conservation, 122, 351-359 Retrieved September 16, 2016, from http://tpyoung.ucdavis.edu/publications/2005zebrasbiolconserv.pdf