Latest news with #Alial-Zuhairi
Rudaw Net
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Rudaw Net
Diyala governor to probe disappearance of nearly 400 gazelles
Also in Iraq All Kurdish oil exports to be handed over to Baghdad: Source Solutions for Erbil-Baghdad disputes reached, talks to continue: Iraqi parliament PM Barzani, Iraqi parliament speaker discuss budget disputes KRG accuses Baghdad of evading responsibility on drone attacks A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Diyala's governor has formed a committee to investigate the disappearance of nearly 400 gazelles in the province's Mandali district, the local mayor said on Monday. Ali al-Zuhairi, mayor of Mandali, told Rudaw late last month that only ten gazelles remain and that it is unclear when or how the animals disappeared, adding that there is suspicion that they were 'stolen or sold through smuggling.' He noted that when he assumed the position nearly half a year ago, he was told that around 400 gazelles live in the reserve, but later found out that there were only ten. Zuhairi told Rudaw on Monday that Governor Adnan al-Shammari has formed a committee to probe the disappearance of the gazelles. 'The committee will start working on Tuesday and will visit the reserve where the gazelles were kept. We will await the results of the investigation by the committee,' the mayor noted. The missing animals are goitered gazelles (Gazella subgutturosa), also known as black-tailed gazelles, a species native to Iraq that is increasingly threatened by habitat loss, illegal hunting, and climate change. Iraq has long struggled with illegal wildlife trafficking, driven by years of instability, weak enforcement, and high demand in regional black markets. Falcons from Iraq's southern plains and rare birds and foxes from the mountains of the Kurdistan Region are frequently targeted by traffickers. Rare animals are also regularly smuggled into Iraq to be sold at high prices. Nahro Mohammed contributed to this article.
Rudaw Net
29-06-2025
- Politics
- Rudaw Net
Nearly 400 gazelles go missing in Diyala province reserve
Also in Iraq Iraqi Supreme Judicial Council approves top judge's retirement KRG delegation arrives in Baghdad amid efforts to resolve financial disputes Iraq's Victory Coalition to skip election Iraq's marshlands are drying up A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Nearly all of the 400 gazelles in an animal reserve in Diyala province's Mandali district have gone missing, its mayor said on Sunday, who also called for an immediate investigation amid suspicions of theft or smuggling. Ali al-Zuhairi told Rudaw that only ten gazelles remain and that it is unclear when or how the animals disappeared, adding that there is suspicion that they were 'stolen or sold through smuggling.' He urged authorities to launch an immediate investigation. The missing animals are goitered gazelles (Gazella subgutturosa), also known as black-tailed gazelles, a species native to Iraq that is increasingly threatened by habitat loss, illegal hunting, and climate change. 'This phenomenon poses a major threat to environmental biodiversity and requires swift action by relevant parties to hold violators accountable and protect the remaining endangered animal resources in the country,' Zuhairi added. Diyala police spokesperson Haitham al-Shamari told Rudaw that they have not been officially notified of the disappearances. Iraq has long struggled with illegal wildlife trafficking, driven by years of instability, weak enforcement, and high demand in regional black markets. Falcons from Iraq's southern plains and rare birds and foxes from the mountains of the Kurdistan Region are frequently targeted by traffickers. Rare animals are also regularly smuggled into Iraq to be sold at high prices. Although Iraq signed the Convention on the Protection of Animals in 2014 - which aims to regulate the global trade in wildlife and animal products - illegal trafficking remains widespread across the country.
