Bozin and Marakhil Protected Area

The Bozin and Marakhil Protected Area (in Kurdish: بۆزین و مەرەخێڵ) covers about 23,724 hectares in Paveh and Javanrud counties of Kermanshah Province. Located on the border between Iran and Iraq, it is known as the only habitat of the Persian leopard in Kermanshah Province. Bozin and Marakhil was designated a No-Hunting and No-Shooting Area in 1995 (1374 SH) and registered as a Protected Area in 1999 (1378 SH).

The vegetation of the area includes Persian oak forests, wild pistachio (baneh), olive, myrtle, redbud, wild pear, maple, hawthorn, ash, plum, hollyhock, barberry, fritillary (crown imperial) and a variety of grasses. This plant diversity provides a suitable habitat for many animal species. Wildlife in the area includes the goitered gazelle (also known as the miniature deer), wild goat and bezoar ibex, wild sheep (mouflon), wild boar, leopard, caracal, Persian squirrel, wildcat, jackal, wolf, badger, fox, see-see partridge, chukar, great rock nuthatch, passerines, eagles, leopard snake, Caucasian viper and Levantine viper.

With its full-flowing rivers such as the Sirvan, Leyleh, Golal, Lavan and Marakhil, its beautiful valleys and dense forests, the area is one of the most popular destinations for nature tourism and ecotourism in western Iran. Even so, it faces problems such as frequent wildfires and a shortage of water resources, which call for more attention and conservation measures.