A photography exhibit showcasing the Kurdistan Region’s wildlife was held in the capital Erbil on Sunday, timed to mark World Wildlife Day.

The event’s curator Firyad Nanakali told Rudaw that in addition to showing the beautiful nature of the Kurdistan Region, the exhibition aims to raise awareness for the protection of wildlife.

A total of 32 pieces by 23 photographers from across the Kurdistan Region were displayed at the exhibit. The images were selected from more than 300 submissions.

Arkan Wlatzheri is one of the artists participating in the event. He said it was an opportunity for talented photographers to showcase their daring work that sometimes means days spent in the mountains in hopes of capturing the perfect image, despite the risk it poses to their own lives.

Though Iraq in 2014 signed onto the Convention on the Protection of Animals, which aims to control the global trade in plants, animals and animal products, the illegal trade of wild animals is still a frequent occurrence all over the country.

Between 2008 and 2010, the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) introduced environmental protection laws, including some related to hunting, in order to protect the region's wildlife and nature.

Fears of prosecution have pushed the illegal wildlife trade underground in the Kurdistan Region, but it has not stopped. Two hunters were arrested in possession of more than 90 dead pigeons in Sulaimani’s Piramagrun on Saturday.