where do hamsters come from

Hamsters originally come from a variety of regions mainly in parts of Asia and Europe. The most common pet hamster, the Syrian or golden hamster, originates from a small area around Aleppo in northwest Syria. There are about 24 species of hamsters, living wild in diverse habitats such as grasslands, meadows, farmland, fields, gardens, and sand dunes across Asia and Europe. These natural habitats help hamsters burrow, find food, and raise their young. The Syrian hamster was first scientifically described in 1839, but the domestication of hamsters for pets began after an expedition in 1930 when a zoologist named Israel Aharoni captured a mother Syrian hamster and her pups in Aleppo. These hamsters were bred in captivity and became the ancestors of most pet hamsters today. Wild hamsters face threats from habitat loss, urban expansion, agriculture, and climate change, making some species vulnerable or endangered.