EuroSpeleo 2016

North East Iran - Bulgarian-Iranian Speleo Expedition 2015

Oral|Ms Heliana Dundarova

Abstract

The aims of the Bulgarian-Iranian joint expedition were exploration, mapping and chiropterological study of the caves within Razavi Khorasan Province, located in northeastern Iran with center Mashhad.
The first part of the expedition took place in Bezangan Mountain, where 787m of the “Ghar Kharkas” cave were surveyed and a colony of the bat species Rhinolophus blasii was identified. Within the same area in “Ghar Bezangan” cave a huge colony of the species Miniopterus pallidus was found.
The second part of expedition was in South Khorasan Province close to the city of Sarayan, and the main aim was exploration of the “Ghar Baton” cave which is located at 2400 m altitude and has two vertical entrances: upper and lower. The lower entrance starts with sloped passage and a small plumb that reaches a labyrinth of galleries which are connected with two halls. Within this part of the cave a Myotis blythii colony was identified. The upper entrance starts with series of verticals which lead to one of the halls of the lower entrance.
The Razavi Khorasan Province is characterized by high cave diversity and almost unexplored biodiversity. Further joint expeditions could provide more detailed picture