Leyban Cave

Leyban Cave is located in the Asas Protected Area in Savadkuh County, Mazandaran Province, and is under the supervision of the county's Department of Environment. The cave was recently registered as a Grade 1 cave, and because of its natural features and environmental importance, access is limited to research teams with special permits. The area around the cave, with its pristine forests and mountains, provides a suitable habitat for rare and valuable wildlife and is considered one of the important protected areas of northern Iran.

The cave's importance stems mainly from the discovery of teeth belonging to an extinct bear species known as the Kudaro bear. This bear lived mainly in Siberia and the Caucasus and became extinct as a result of climate change and global warming. The cave's archaeological and geological findings show that, in addition to its environmental importance, Leyban is of great value for archaeological and palaeontological research, and it may help uncover more information about the area's animal life and possibly about early human settlement in the region.

Given the cave's high level of protection, public entry is prohibited, and only researchers with official permits may access it. These restrictions preserve the cave's fragile ecosystem and its rare animal species, and they highlight the importance of protecting this natural heritage. The surroundings of the cave, with their pristine forests and natural streams, offer a valuable setting for study and scientific research.