Habitat suitability analysis in a natural peat swamp forest on Sumatran elephants using remote sensing and GIS

Context It is essential to assess the suitable habitat for elephants in order mitigate effects of forest fragmentation on conservation.Aims This study aimed estimate potential habitats Sumatran fragmented Padang Sugihan wildlife reserve area southern Sumatra, Indonesia.Methods The suitability was analyzed using some environmental factors such as slope, elevation, land cover, distance rivers, and agricultural areas. remote sensing, geographic information system (GIS), MaxEnt model were used determine elephants.Results revealed areas evenly distributed throughout area, with composition being (45%), highly (5%), less (50%). most found dense (gelam or Melaleuca cajuputi forest), which affected by river adjacency, whereas resulted constrained forested areas.Conclusions As a whole, estimation elephant sensing GIS may guide development conservation strategies this region.