The status and distribution of Gazella gazella (Artiodactyla: Mammalia), and other mammals of the Hatay province in southern Turkey

Abstract

Gazella gazella was discovered recently in a restricted area in the Hatay province, Southern Turkey, which constitutes the northern most point of the distribution of this species in the world. To determine the distribution of the population of mountain gazelles in the Hatay region, 17 camera-traps were set along 45 km, on a line from the south to north along the Syrian border. The traps were in the field for about five months from late May to mid-October in 2016. Field observations and conversations with local people, wildlife officers and researchers were performed to gain more information about the habits and distribution of the gazelles. Two isolated sub-populations were found: The northern one in the Kirikhan region; about 520 gazelles in an area of about 100 km 2 , and separated by 18 km to the south, and some 20 gazelles in an area of about 25 km 2 in the Reyhanli region. This southern sub-population was first discovered in this research. Fourteen species of mammals were recorded with photo-traps. Hemiechinus auritus is a new record for the Hatay region. The conservation efforts after the discovery of the northern mountain gazelle sub-population, assisted an increasing trend in its size, and resulted in finding the additional sub-population in the Reyhanli region.