By Jamshid Parchizadeh

Prolonged drought may increase Asiatic black bear-human encounters in Iran

Iran is facing its worst drought in 50 years which has resulted in water shortages for humans and wildlife species. With drought going on, animal species including the Asiatic black bear have had to leave protected areas for other places where they can find food and water resources (e.g. within or around human populated areas), which can result in encounters between black bears and humans.