A local wildlife photographer has issued a public appeal for wildlife protection in the Kurdistan Region following a rare encounter with an elusive wild lynx in the Berwari Bala region.
Ahmed Edni reported spotting the predator, known locally as al-Washaq, on Nov. 2 near the village of Binavi while traveling through forested mountain terrain to photograph natural scenery. According to Edni, the animal crossed a main road before taking cover in the dense woodland behind a rock. Highlighting the animal’s vulnerability to poaching and habitat disruption, Edni urged local communities and hunters to refrain from harming the species, calling it a national treasure belonging to all Kurds.
The sighting comes alongside broader institutional and grassroots efforts to document and preserve biodiversity across the region. On Oct. 20, Prime Minister Masrour Barzani launched the Kurdistan Biodiversity Project, an initiative established by the Kurdistan Foundation under Areen Masrour Barzani. The project has recorded 2,252 plant and animal species—including 60 mammal species—across 19 biodiversity hotspots in Erbil, Duhok, Sulaimani, and Halabja to build a public database and publish a dedicated study titled Mammals of the Kurdistan Region.
Environmental authorities have warned that regional wildlife faces growing pressure from climate change, habitat fragmentation, forest fires, and illegal hunting. Solin Saadi, head of the Natural Environment Department at the KRG Environmental Protection and Improvement Board, emphasized that unauthorized hunting and illegal wildlife trade carry strict legal penalties. Meanwhile, local volunteer initiatives in areas such as Mount Maqloub and Barzan continue to advocate for conservation through bird releases and traditional community protection practices.
