Data Zone
Country/territory: Iraq
IBA criteria met: A1, A3 (2014)
For more information about IBA criteria, please click here
Area: 28,578 hectares (285.78 km2)
| IBA conservation status | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year of assessment (most recent) | State (condition) | Pressure (threat) | Response (action) |
| 2014 | not assessed | very high | very low |
| For more information about IBA monitoring, please click here | |||
Site description (2014 baseline)
This site is a combination of two KBAs, Teeb Oasis and Zubaidaat, both in Missan Governorate. Teeb Oasis is situated in a semi-desert area and was surveyed in the winter of 2009. It is located in the foothills that rise in the east to the mountainous border with Iran. The oasis contains a freshwater spring used by shepherds and locals to fill their water tanks.
The geology of the area is gravels, sands, silts and alluvium.
Zubaidaat is characterized by dry and hilly terrain, with many valleys (wadis). It is located close to the Iraq-Iran border, with several oil fields, pipeline networks and a small number of paved and dirt roads
Key biodiversity
Additional Important Bird Observations: Locals report large numbers of raptors passing through the area during migration and in winter. In addition to the species listed in the table above, the site held three Irano-Turanian species but these did not trigger inclusion under A3 criterion.
Other Important Fauna: According to reports by locals and hunters, mammals include: Honey Badger Mellivora capensis, Striped Hyena Hyaena hyaena (Near Threatened), Grey Wolf Canis lupus, plus wild cats Felis sp. and foxes Vulpes sp. Gazelles used to occur in the hilly parts of this area where a few were killed close to the border. Two significant reptile species observed at this site were Desert Monitor Varanus griseus and Egyptian Spiny-tailed Lizard Uromastyx aegyptia. No fish data were collected.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Teeb Oasis and Zubaidaat (Iraq). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/teeb-oasis-and-zubaidaat-iba-iraq on 24/12/2024.