Sarigol Nationa Park

Sarigol National Park, one of the old reserves in northeastern Iran where hosts the endangered Persian leopard and Urial wild sheep. With an area of more than 7037 ha, SNP is located some 20 km east of the city of Esfarayen, North Khorasan Province. It was part of Sarigol Protected Area, which was established in 1973, and was then separated and promoted to national park status in 2002 by the Iranian Department of Environment (DoE). The altitude range of 1400-2940 m, mean annual temperature of 140 C and annual precipitation of 273 mm give the region a temperate semi-arid climate. The main ungulate inhabiting the area is the Urial wild sheep together with a low density of wild boar and Persian wild goat. Stone marten, grey wolf, red fox, Pallas’ cat and Asiatic wild cat, as well as Persian leopard, are the main representatives of the Carnivora confirmed in the area.