Animals in Iraq
Lion
Panthera leo
Iraq has no official national animal, but the lion is the one most tied to the country. The Lion of Babylon, a basalt statue found in 1876, is considered a national symbol, and a lion appeared on the coat of arms from 1932 to 1959. Wild lions no longer live here: the last known one was killed on the lower Tigris in 1918.
View details→Wildlife in Iraq
Iraq covers about 438,000 square kilometers and is home to some 46 million people, most of them along the Tigris and Euphrates, the two rivers that give the country its life. Away from them the land changes fast. The west is open desert, the south holds huge marshes, the north rises into the mountains of Kurdistan to more than 3,600 meters, and a short coast of about 58 kilometers touches the Persian Gulf. Most of the country has mild winters and very hot, dry summers, with temperatures that can reach 50 °C, so animals here depend heavily on water and on the cooler highlands.
The rivers shaped ancient Mesopotamia, and the marshes in the south have been a home for people and animals for thousands of years. Those wetlands were largely drained in the 1990s, partly recovered after 2003 and became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2016. Drought has hit them hard since then: the FAO reported in 2025 that up to 80 percent of the marshes in Dhi Qar had dried up, although water returned to parts of Hawizeh in 2026. In the north, Iraqi biologists proved with camera traps in 2011 that leopards still lived in the country, on Qara Dagh mountain.
Wildlife tourism is small, and it centers on the marshes, where Dhi Qar counted 18,000 visitors in 2018 and the best months run from September to April. Boats through the reeds are the main way to see the birds there. Wildlife follows these contrasts: wild cats and wolves in the mountains, gazelles and camels in the dry lands, and water birds in the marshes.
Most Dangerous Animals in Iraq
Iraq has few animals that truly threaten people, and the most unusual danger is in its rivers. Bull sharks swim up from the Persian Gulf into the Shatt al Arab, the waterway that flows past Basra, and they have been caught far inland: in 2007 a fisherman in southern Iraq landed a shark 2 meters long, more than 200 kilometers from the sea. One compiled list records six attacks in the Shatt al Arab, two of them fatal, but it is not an official count. Dams now keep these sharks from reaching Baghdad, as they once did.
On land the big carnivores are rarely a threat. Leopards are so scarce that one conservationist in Kurdistan says there is not a single confirmed case of one attacking a person or livestock there. Wolves and hyenas live far from most towns, and wild boars can be dangerous mainly when cornered.
The strangest story belongs to honey badgers. In 2007 rumors spread in Basra that British troops had released man eating beasts in the area. Experts identified the animals as honey badgers, which already lived in the southern marshes and are not usually dangerous to people unless provoked, and the British army denied the claim.
Top 10 Animals in Iraq
The most famous animals in Iraq are mostly shy, and few visitors will ever see them, since wildlife watching here is still small. Wild cats top the list. Leopards live in small numbers in the mountains of Kurdistan, where one conservationist estimates there may be about 25 left, and places such as Qara Dagh and Bamo are known from camera trap studies rather than from sightings. Smaller wild cats live in the drier parts of the country.
Wolves and hyenas are the other big carnivores, and both range over open country and hills, far from the cities. Camels are the easiest to see of the big animals, because herds graze on the desert and steppe of the south and west, though these are domestic animals rather than wild ones.
For birds, the southern marshes are the best place in the country, and they fill with wetland species and migrants when the water is good, with the months from September to April as the main season. Eagles, falcons and storks are among the other well known birds recorded in the country. Chameleons are small and well hidden, so they are mostly noticed by chance on warm days in trees and bushes.
Golden Jackal
Canis aureus
In Iraq, the golden jackal is found mainly in the river plains of the Tigris and Euphrates and in the extensive marshlands of the south, including the Mesopotamian Marshes, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. These wetlands offer ideal conditions: abundant water, dense reed cover, and a reliable supply of small animals and fish scraps. It also ventures into agricultural zones and the edges of rural settlements. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Sand Gazelle
Gazella marica
The sand gazelle, or reem, once roamed the open deserts of western and southern Iraq. Decades of hunting and war wiped out most wild herds, and the IUCN believes a few still survive in the western desert, though there is little recent information. Small herds are kept in reserves such as Sawa in Muthanna, where drought and poor grazing killed many of the animals in 2022. IUCN status: Vulnerable.
Persian Leopard
Panthera pardus tulliana
In Iraq, Persian leopards survive in the Zagros Mountains of Kurdistan, along the border with Iran. Camera traps set by Nature Iraq on Bamo Mountain confirmed them in the 2010s, when they were thought gone from the region, and local experts estimate that around 25 may remain. Hunting, the loss of wild goats and the effects of war are the main threats, and the cats move across the border with Iran. IUCN status: Endangered.
Badger
Meles meles
In Iraq, badgers live in the mountains of the Kurdistan Region in the north, in oak woodland, scrub and river valleys, where they dig setts on wooded slopes. They are part of the badgers that many scientists call the Caucasian badger, though the IUCN counts them as Eurasian badgers. They are nocturnal and seldom seen, and they forage for insects, fruit, roots and small animals. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Hare
Lepus europaeus
In Iraq, the European hare lives in the north, in the farmland, grassland and mountain valleys of the Kurdistan region near the borders with Turkey and Iran. The cooler, wetter north suits it better than the dry plains and deserts of the south, where other hares live. Hunting and the loss of natural grassland put pressure on local hares, but the species is still found across suitable areas. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Gray Wolf
Canis lupus
In Iraq, gray wolves survive in low numbers across the northern highlands near the Kurdish region and in parts of the western desert. Their range has contracted significantly due to decades of conflict, habitat degradation, and hunting pressure. These wolves tend to move through remote and rugged terrain where human activity is limited, though their long-term prospects remain uncertain given ongoing pressures in the region.
Stone Marten
Martes foina
In Iraq, the stone marten lives in the mountains of the Kurdistan Region in the north, along the borders with Turkey and Iran, in oak woodland, rocky gorges and around mountain villages. It is the only marten in the country. It hunts rodents and birds at night and eats a lot of wild fruit, such as figs, grapes and berries. Like much of the wildlife of these mountains, it has been little studied. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Eurasian Lynx
Lynx lynx
In Iraq the Eurasian lynx lives in the mountains of the Kurdistan region in the far north, near the borders with Türkiye and Iran. It is very rare, and for years there were only scattered reports, until recent studies documented new sites and, in 2024, the first breeding record in the country. It hunts hares, birds and other small prey on rocky, wooded slopes shared with the persian leopard and wolves. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Red Fox
Vulpes vulpes
The red fox lives throughout Iraq, from the oak forests and valleys of the Zagros in Kurdistan to the farmland along the Tigris and Euphrates, the deserts of the west and the Mesopotamian Marshes of the south. It eats rodents, birds, insects, fish and scraps near towns. The draining of the marshes in the 1990s took much habitat, but the fox has stayed widespread. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Roe Deer
Capreolus capreolus
The roe deer reaches the southeastern edge of its range in northern Iraq, where it shelters in the wooded valleys and foothills of the Zagros Mountains near the Kurdish region. Populations here are small and relatively isolated compared to those in Europe. The deer feeds on leaves, shoots, and herbs among the oak woodlands of the area. Local pressures from hunting and habitat loss are a concern. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Wild Boar
Sus scrofa
Wild boars live in the Mesopotamian Marshes of southern Iraq, where tall reed beds give them cover and food, along the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, and in the forested mountains of the Kurdistan region in the north. Pigs were first tamed from wild boars upstream, in the upper Tigris basin. Pork is not eaten for religious reasons, so they are rarely hunted for meat. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Dromedary Camel
Camelus dromedarius
In Iraq, dromedary camels are found mainly in the western and southern desert regions, where rainfall is scarce and temperatures climb very high in summer. Bedouin communities in Al Anbar and other desert provinces keep dromedaries for milk, meat, and transport. The animals are also raced at local festivals, reflecting a deep cultural connection to the camel that stretches back thousands of years across Mesopotamia. IUCN status: not evaluated.
Caracal
Caracal caracal
The caracal has been recorded in Iraq, particularly in the drier western and northern parts of the country where scrublands and rocky terrain provide suitable cover. It is a solitary, largely nocturnal cat that preys on birds, rodents, and small mammals. Verified sightings in Iraq are sparse, making population assessments difficult. The IUCN lists the species as Least Concern globally, though local pressures remain a concern.
Striped Hyena
Hyaena hyaena
Striped hyenas live across much of Iraq, in the rocky western desert, the steppes and the foothills of the Zagros in the north. Hyenas that come close to villages at night are often killed out of fear rather than real danger, since they mostly feed on carrion, scraps and livestock remains. Wild prey is scarce, and they share the land with wolves, golden jackals and sand gazelles. Habitat loss and hunting reduce them. IUCN status: Near Threatened.
Honey Badger
Mellivora capensis
The honey badger lives in Iraq in the dry steppe, desert margins and river valleys of the south and west, part of a range that runs from Arabia through western Asia. It is poorly studied here, and most of what is known comes from scattered records and neighboring countries. It feeds on rodents, reptiles and insects, digs its own burrows and moves mostly at night. Hunting and habitat loss are possible threats. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Sand Cat
Felis margarita
In Iraq the sand cat lives in the western and southern deserts, which are part of the great desert shared with Syria, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. Records are rare, and the species is little studied in the country. It hunts rodents and reptiles at night, rests in burrows by day and can survive without drinking, and it shares Iraq's deserts with caracals and red foxes. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Eurasian Otter
Lutra lutra
In Iraq the Eurasian otter lives mainly in the mountain rivers of the Kurdistan region in the north, where camera traps and surveys have recorded it along streams with clean water and riverside trees. It is rare and threatened by dams, drought, pollution and hunting. It shares these northern mountains with Persian leopards, wolves and striped hyenas, and the cliffs with golden eagles. IUCN status: Near Threatened.
Chameleon
Chamaeleonidae
The common chameleon reaches the western fringe of Iraq, where it lives in dry scrub, orchards and areas with scattered vegetation, especially near the borders with Syria and Jordan, where the land is a little greener. Sightings are relatively rare and the population is considered sparse. Its independently rotating eyes see in almost every direction, and its tongue reaches twice its body length. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Steppe Eagle
Aquila nipalensis
The steppe eagle passes through Iraq on migration and also spends the winter in its open country, including the plains of the Tigris and Euphrates and the deserts of the west. It forages widely, feeding on carrion, rubbish and whatever small prey it can find, and young birds are common. Electrocution and poisoning are risks here as across the region, and formal monitoring of raptors in Iraq remains limited. IUCN status: Endangered.
Griffon Vulture
Gyps fulvus
In Iraq, the griffon vulture is mainly recorded in the northern highlands near the Zagros Mountains, where Kurdish regions offer the rocky terrain it needs for nesting. It is more rarely seen in the lowland areas to the south. The species relies on open land and the presence of large animal carcasses to sustain itself. Ongoing habitat pressures in northern Iraq affect the availability of safe nesting sites. Its IUCN status is Least Concern.
Eagle Owl
Bubo bubo
In Iraq, the Eurasian eagle owl is most associated with the rocky hills and mountain valleys of the northern Kurdistan region, where cliffs provide ideal nesting sites. It also appears in drier lowland areas near the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. Largely nocturnal, it preys on rodents, birds, and small mammals. The IUCN rates the species as Least Concern across its global range.
Saker Falcon
Falco cherrug
The saker falcon passes through Iraq during migration and is recorded as a winter visitor across the country's open desert and semi-desert landscapes. The broad flat terrain of central and western Iraq offers suitable conditions for the falcon's characteristic low, fast hunting style. The species faces pressure from illegal trapping linked to the falconry trade in the region. The IUCN lists the saker falcon as Endangered.
Barn Owl
Tyto alba
The barn owl is found in Iraq in open farmland, date palm groves, and areas near villages along the Tigris and Euphrates river valleys and the irrigated plains of Mesopotamia. It nests in old buildings, ruins, cliff faces, and palm groves, and hunts rodents at night. In the agricultural heartland between the two great rivers it plays a useful role in controlling small mammal populations that damage crops and stored grain. Its presence in ancient ruins and historic structures throughout the country gives it a distinctive character in the Iraqi landscape.
White tailed Eagle
Haliaeetus albicilla
The white tailed eagle visits Iraq in winter, using the vast marshlands of the south, the Mesopotamian Marshes near Basra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. These wetlands offer plenty of fish and waterfowl. It is an uncommon but notable winter visitor, also found along the Tigris and Euphrates. Many marshes were drained in the 1990s and later partly restored, which brought back some of the waterbirds it hunts. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Crane
Grus grus
Common cranes visit Iraq during the winter months, making use of the country's river floodplains and marshes, including the famous Mesopotamian Marshes of the south, a UNESCO World Heritage site. These wetlands offer rich feeding grounds for cranes wintering along the Middle Eastern flyway. The IUCN lists the species as Least Concern. The ongoing restoration of the Mesopotamian Marshes after past drainage has benefited wintering waterbirds, including the crane.
Stork
Ciconia ciconia
Iraq lies along a major migratory corridor for white storks moving between breeding grounds in Europe and western Asia and their wintering areas in Africa. The Mesopotamian Marshes of southern Iraq, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, serve as a valuable refueling stop. Storks feed on fish, frogs, and invertebrates in these vast wetlands. Passage birds are most visible during spring and autumn, though small numbers may also linger in suitable habitat.
White Wagtail
Motacilla alba
In Iraq, the white wagtail is commonly seen along the Tigris and Euphrates rivers and around the famous Mesopotamian Marshes of the south, one of the most important wetland areas in the Middle East. It visits during the winter months and on migration, favoring open ground near water where insects are plentiful. Its lively tail bobbing makes it one of the easiest birds to recognize in the region. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Peregrine Falcon
Falco peregrinus
The peregrine falcon is recorded in Iraq mainly as a passage migrant and winter visitor, moving through the country during its seasonal journeys between breeding and wintering areas. The marshlands of southern Iraq, the Mesopotamian wetlands near Basra, and the rocky uplands in the north all provide suitable habitat. Some individuals may also winter in the region, making use of the rich birdlife concentrated around the rivers and wetlands. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Mute Swan
Cygnus olor
The mute swan visits Iraq mainly in winter, appearing along the Tigris and Euphrates rivers and in the marshlands of southern Iraq, including the famous Mesopotamian Marshes. These wetlands provide rich feeding grounds where the birds rest during their seasonal movements. With its white plumage and orange bill, the mute swan stands out clearly among the reeds and open water. Its IUCN status is Least Concern.
Nightingale
Luscinia megarhynchos
The nightingale breeds in parts of Iraq, particularly in the better watered northern regions where riverside scrub, orchards and thickets of dense vegetation occur. It also passes through on migration, following river valleys such as the Tigris and Euphrates. Males can be heard singing in spring in suitable habitats in the north of the country. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Golden Eagle
Aquila chrysaetos
In Iraq, the golden eagle is found mainly in the northern mountains of Kurdistan and the Zagros foothills along the borders with Iran and Turkey. This rugged country of rocky ridges and open slopes gives it good hunting for hares, partridges and tortoises. Shooting and the long years of conflict have left its numbers poorly known. Pairs need huge territories here, because prey is thin on the ground. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Flamingo
Phoenicopteridae (6 species)
The greater flamingo visits Iraq outside the breeding season, mostly in winter, when flocks from colonies in Iran, Turkey and Central Asia arrive. They feed in the Mesopotamian Marshes of the south, in shallow lakes and in coastal flats near Basra, filtering small crustaceans and algae from the water. The draining of the marshes in the 1990s and their partial restoration since 2003 have changed where the birds can feed. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Eurasian Magpie
Pica pica
In Iraq, the Eurasian magpie lives mainly in the north, in the hills and valleys of the Kurdistan Region, where orchards, oak woods, poplar groves and villages give it trees for nesting and open ground for feeding. It is scarce in the hot, dry plains of the south. It stays all year, builds a large domed nest of sticks and eats insects, fruit, grain and scraps. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Tiger Shark
Galeocerdo cuvier
In Iraq the tiger shark lives in the warm, shallow waters of the northern tip of the Persian Gulf, near the mouth of the Shatt al Arab, where it hunts fish, rays, sea snakes and turtles over seagrass beds and coral patches. Iraq's coast is short and muddy, so it is seen mostly by fishers. It copes with summer water that is among the hottest in the ocean, and it is a regular catch for local fishers. IUCN status: Near Threatened.
Bull Shark
Carcharhinus leucas
Iraq's short coast at the top of the Persian Gulf is dominated by the Shatt al Arab, where the Tigris and Euphrates meet before reaching the sea. Bull sharks live in this brackish delta and have been recorded swimming up the Shatt al Arab toward Basra, well inland. The species is one of the few sharks able to use this muddy, low salinity water, and it is caught by local fishers. IUCN status: Vulnerable.
Frequently Asked Questions
What animals live in Iraq?
Iraq is home to gray wolves, Persian leopards, Eurasian lynx, caracals, sand cats, striped hyenas, sand gazelles, wild boars, honey badgers, red foxes and golden jackals. Its birds include golden eagles, saker falcons, griffon vultures, cranes, storks and flamingos. Bull sharks enter its rivers from the Persian Gulf.
What is the national animal of Iraq?
Iraq has no clearly official national animal, and lists online do not agree on one. The lion is the animal most tied to the country, thanks to the Lion of Babylon, an ancient statue considered a national symbol, even though wild lions disappeared from Iraq about a century ago.
Are there leopards in Iraq?
Yes. A small number of Persian leopards live in the mountains of Iraqi Kurdistan. A camera trap on Qara Dagh recorded one in 2011, and a conservationist estimates that about 25 may remain. Poaching is their main threat, and several have been found dead in the last decade.
Are there sharks in the rivers of Iraq?
Yes. Bull sharks can live in fresh water and swim up from the Persian Gulf into the Shatt al Arab near Basra. Fishermen have caught them far inland, including one about 2 meters long taken more than 200 kilometers from the sea in 2007. They once reached Baghdad, but dams now stop them.
What animals are endangered in Iraq?
Persian leopards are among the most threatened animals in the country, with only a few dozen thought to survive. Gazelles are also at risk from poaching, smuggling and drought, and in 2025 nearly 400 went missing from a single reserve in Diyala. The drying of the southern marshes also threatens many of the birds that depend on them.
Researched and written by Juan Pablo. Sources: IUCN Red List, scientific literature and regional field guides. Last updated: .