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Bookbinding, Iran early 1800's - In this delicate old Persian miniature painting, Fath-Ali Shah of the Qajar Dynasty, who ruled the Iranian Empire from 1797 - 1834 A.D., is seen riding his white stallion in a Royal hunt. Hunting has always been a favorite Royal pastime of the Iranian kings and their courts. As an unfortunate result, many of the animal species of Iran's incredibly rich fauna have been either decimated to having an endangered status, or totally extinct. Both the Caspian tiger and the Persian lion are examples of species that today are extinct. The government of Iran's last Shah, whatever one may think of it, can at least take credit for having implemented an ambitious and successful preservation program. The environment has unfortunately suffered tremendously in Iran in the last two decades.
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North Africa/Middle East
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image -- 1000 x 677)