Rare cases of carnivore mortality due to electric power distribution lines in Iran

ABSTRACT

Power lines are one of the mammals’ mortality factors. There are some records of electrocuted large mammals such as elephants and leopards in India, deer and cougars in the USA. In this paper, we report some records of electrocuted mammals in Iran. In March 2015, two striped hyenas, Hyaena hyaena Linnaeus, 1758 and three red foxes Vulpes vulpes Linnaeus, 1758 electrocuted by a toppled down wooden electric pole were recorded in a desert in Qom Province. On 7 April 2016, two Eurasian lynxes, Lynx lynx Linnaeus, 1758 electrocuted by a bare wire (without insulation) were documented in a mountainous area in Qazvin Province. Moreover, on 26 October 2016, an adult stone marten, Martes foina Erxleben, 1777 was found electrocuted by a transformer near the Bagh-e Shadi Protected Area in Yazd Province. Basic improvement of electric power lines will play a key role in reducing wildlife mortality.

KEYWORDS:

• Electrocuted mammal
• Hyaena hyaena
• Lynx lynx
• Lynx
• stone marten
• Martes foina
• striped hyena

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.