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چکیده
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Human-wildlife conflict is considered as a serious threat to the survival of species worldwide. Species conservation programs become more challenging when the target wild animals frighten humans to death like snakes do, therefore human-snake conflict mitigation is among the most difficult ones. Global distribution of Latifi’s Mountain Viper (Montivipera latifii), an iconic endangered species, is restricted to a confined area in the central Alborz Mountains in Iran and mainly overlaps with the Lar protected complex boundaries (National park and No Hunting Area). The major threats to this viper are habitat destruction, overgrazing, illegal collecting and intentional killing by nomads and shepherds. In 2015, Pars Herpetologists Institute and zoological and botanical garden Plzeň together started a conservation project in Lar National Park in order to protect Latifi’s Mountain Viper remaining population. The key aims of this participatory conservation project included reducing locals-snake conflicts in the area, changing attitudes towards the species through education and raising public awareness and improving awareness of tourists, as well as nomads and shepherds on the importance of M. latifii in its habitat and the ecosystem. The most important activities included face to face education of more than 12000 visitors, nomads and tourists in Lar National Park on the importance of Latifi’s Mountain Viper, awareness raising via popular national TV programs and organizing the first Latifi’s Mountain Viper festival. We believe by gaining local and government support for Latifi’s Mountain Viper conservation, encouraging greater volunteer participation and signing an international agreement on M. latifii conservation, we are on the right track to achieve long-term conservation success.
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