Fereydunkenar

Fereydunkenar (Persian: فريدونكنار) is a city in the Central District of Fereydunkenar County, Mazandaran province, Iran, serving as capital of both the county and the district.

At the time of the 2006 National Census, the city's population was 34,452 in 9,278 households, when it was capital of the former Fereydunkenar District in Babolsar County. The following census in 2011 counted 36,192 people in 10,922 households, by which time the district had been separated from the county in the establishment of Fereydunkenar County. Fereydunkenar was transferred to the new Central District as the county's capital. The 2016 census measured the population of the city as 38,154 people in 12,606 households.

Fereydunkenar is known as an important wintering site for migratory waterbirds, including endangered species such as the Siberian crane. However, the region has been a hotspot for illegal bird hunting, which has raised concerns among conservationists and environmental organizations.

Traditional bird trapping practices, such as the use of mist nets and decoys, have been criticized for their impact on migratory birds, particularly in the context of the Fereydunkenar and Sorkhrud Wetland Complex, a key stopover for waterfowl along the Central Asian flyway.

Despite official efforts to regulate hunting activities, illegal bird hunting persists in the area. In 2018, the Department of Environment of Mazandaran Province announced strict enforcement measures to prevent violations. Nevertheless, reports indicate that thousands of migratory birds are still poached annually in Fereydunkenar and surrounding wetlands, posing a threat to biodiversity in the region.

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