Habitat fragmentation and the disruption of connectivity caused by roads are major concerns for the
conservation of large carnivores as apex predator. The central arid plains of Iran support a variety of
carnivore species, which their populations have sharply decreased because of habitat destruction,
deterioration, and fragmentation. This study was conducted in the three conservation areas (CAs) and
surrounded landscapes in central plains of Iran, focusing on two large carnivores: the grey wolf and
the Persian leopard. The objectives were to predict habitat suitability and identify the environmental
variables influencing the distribution of these carnivores. Additionally, the study aimed to predict
core habitats and corridors, as well as their integration with CAs. Furthermore, road densities and the
number of road crossings relevant to the assessed carnivores were applied. An ensemble modeling
approach for habitat suitability, which includes five different algorithms and factorial least cost analysis
were applied to predict habitat suitability, core habitats and their connectivity. The results indicated
that the most important variables for habitat suitability were distance to CAs, grassland density, and
distance to water resources for both carnivores. Three core habitats were identified for the grey wolf,
while two core habitats were identified for the Persian leopard. The coverage of predicted core habitats
within CAs exceeded 90%. However, the high road density within the corridors for grey wolves (80 m/
km²) and particularly for Persian leopards (152 m/km²) in our study area indicated that the habitat
was fragmented by roads for the assessed carnivorous species. To enhance connectivity and reduce
habitat fragmentation, it is recommended to facilitate the movement of carnivores within corridors by
implementing warning signs and speed cameras in areas bisected by roads. Integrated management
of core habitats and corridors for the assessed carnivores, encompassing both conservation and road
management, should be prioritized by wildlife managers in the study area.