Vegetation is fairly sparse throughout Iraq, chiefly due to the high saline content of the soil in many places.
Cultivated trees include the date palm and the poplar. Fauna include the antelope, bat, cheetah, hare, hyena, gazelle, jackal, jerboa, lion, various species of lizard, wolf, wild ass and wild pig.
There are many birds of prey, including the buzzard, hawk, owl, vulture and raven, and a few other birds, which include geese, duck, partridge and sand grouse.