5. Conclusion:
The research presented here focused on identifying suitable habitat, the
most important core areas, the strongest potential corridors that
connect them and validating these models with independent movement data
for grey wolf and golden jackal. Based on our results we recommend: (1)
protecting the identified core areas in unprotected lands and along
significant corridors among core area patches; (2) encouraging movement
across the most important corridors through habitat restoration and
protect them from development; and (3) implementing mitigating measures
for reducing grey wolf and golden jackal vehicle collisions, especially
in main movement corridors in the southern part of the study area.
The study provides significant information for the protection of grey
wolf and golden jackal in central Iran. In our study area, we predicted
high densities of corridors would support these species’ movements,
especially in the southern and central parts of the study area.
Conservation of these species will likely require protecting key core
habitats and the linkages among them. Accordingly, conservation of both
species in central Iran should focus on safeguarding core habitats and
corridor networks to improve the permeability, habitat quality and
reducing mortality risk at the corridors linking them.