Shileh Protected Area

Shileh Protected Area is located in Sistan and Baluchestan Province. It covers 6,521 hectares and has been under protection since 1378 (Solar Hijri; 1999). The area lies about 80 kilometers from the city of Zabol, south of Hamoun Protected Area.

The climate is hot and dry, and the vegetation is sparse and mostly drought-resistant. The dominant plants are tamarisk trees and shrubs, salt-tolerant species and other plants adapted to arid conditions. Even so, Shileh is a varied habitat for many animal and bird species, including goitered gazelle, wildcat, red fox, golden jackal, houbara bustard, francolin, steppe eagle, several kinds of buzzard, kestrel, lark and other smaller birds.

The best time to visit Shileh is autumn and winter, because temperatures in summer become very high and conditions are not suitable for touring. A visit offers a chance to see a different kind of nature in the heart of a hot climate. Visitors should respect the wildlife habitat and the area's environmental restrictions, and avoid causing any pollution or damage, so that Shileh can be preserved for future generations as one of the important protected areas of southern Iran.