TEHRAN-- Omid, the last survivor of the Siberian cranes in Iran, along with its brand-new companion, Roya, left Fereydunknar International Wetland in Mazandaran province for Siberia on Sunday.After passing over the skies of Mazandaran, Gilan, and Ardebil provinces, the two Siberian cranes will fly to Azerbaijan, IRNA quoted Hassan Akbari, an official with the Department of Environment, as saying.In the Persian language, Omid and Roya suggest Hope and Dream, respectively.After losing his couple Arezoo (significance Wish in Persian), Omid came every year to the Fereydunknar International Wetland for wintering.Considering that Omid is the last survivor of the western population of Siberian cranes, the Department of Environment decided to get a young female Siberian crane from the Cracid - & Crane Breeding and Conservation Center (CBCC) in Belgium.Environmental experts hope that Omid and Roya can conquer this difficult situation, away from possible threats, and go back to Iran next year.According to the International Crane Foundation site, this critically threatened types is now just discovered in one primary population in East Asia, with a few birds remaining in the historical Western/Central population.The Eastern population types in northeastern Siberia and winter seasons at Poyang Lake in the Lower Yangtze River Basin in China.

In the Western/Central population, a single crane [Omid] continues to winter along the south coast of the Caspian Sea in Iran.

This population is reproduced simply south of the Ob River in Russia.With a height of 140 centimeters and a weight of 6 kilograms, there are just 3,600 to 4,000 cranes left in the world.

The Eastern population is stable, however the Western/Central population is practically extirpated.Adult cranes have red skin on the forehead, face, and sides of the head, white plumage with black wingtips, and reddish-pink legs while juvenile cranes have a plumage mix of white and cinnamon-brown feathers and tan head.The earliest recorded crane was a Siberian Crane named Wolf, who died at the age of 83.

Wolf is in the Guinness Book of World Records.Habitat loss, particularly due to changing hydrology triggered by water diversions and conversion of wetlands, unlawful take consisting of hunting, trapping and poisoning, pollution, and environmental contamination is threatening this endangered species.MG