Determining of large mammals (mammalia) in Ganos mountain(Tekirdağ) through camera trapping

Nowadays, wildlife is under the intense pressure due to various anthropogenic effects such as global climate change, poaching, intense urbanization, agriculture, and livestock activities. Among the reasons, it can be said that large mammal species are affected more rapidly by these effects given their body size and the large habitat requirements. Türkiye is known as a very rich area in terms of biodiversity due to its geological history and geographic location. Although the great list of mammal species of our country is known quite clearly, it can be seen that the studies on mammalian class in the Thrace region of Türkiye have focused primarily on small mammalian groups, whereas the and large mammalians have been mentioned only in a few scientific studies or in some fauna lists. To the present, except for some photographs and observations within the borders of Tekirdağ province, there are no scientific studies published on large mammalian species. The present study was carried out in Ganos Mountain, which is located in Tekirdağ province and covers an area of approximately 350 km², between March 2021 and June 2022 with the photo trapping method. During this period, trials were carried out at 20 stations with a total of 4 camera traps, and the value of 1,820 camera trap days was reached with camera traps from 12 stations. As a result of our efforts, some 1.101 camera trap recordings of mammalian species were obtained, namely of Capreolus capreolus (roe deer), Sus scrofa (wild boar), Canis lupus (wolf), Canis aureus (coyote), Vulpes vulpes (red fox), Felis silvestris (wild cat), and Martes foina (rock marten).This study is to be considered a preliminary one, having been carried out for the purpose of detecting the large mammalian species of the Mount Ganos which has not been thoroughly studied in Turkey. The obtained data would contribute to the general database on the distribution and diversity of large mammalians in Tekirdağ and Thrace, in particular, and in Turkey, in general.