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.