Food preference of Sumatran elephant (Elephas maximus sumatranus) to commodity crops in human-elephant conflict area of Aceh, Indonesia

Abstract

Sumatran elephant (Elephas maximus sumatranus) experiences several conflict with human in rural population. Commodity crops tend to be destroyed or consumed by the elephants during crop raiding due to availability of palatable plants species. Comprehensive data and information are needed to synthesis conservation strategy towards their disturbance in human area. The study was aimed to obtain preferred commodity plant species by the elephants using electivity index. The study site was located in Elephant Conservation Centre, Saree, Aceh, Indonesia. The research was designed as to follow restricted feeding of several identified crops such as: areca palm (Areca catechu), banana (Musa sp.), oil palm (Elais gueenensis), rice (Oryza sativa), rubber tree (Hevea brassiliensis), cacao tree (Theobroma cocoa), coffee (Coffea arabica), chili pepper (Capsicum frutescens), candlenut (Aleurites moluccana), and patchouli (Pogostemon cablin). The results showed three commodity plant which were not preferred by the elephants such as: chili pepper (Capsicum frutescens), candlenut (Aleurites moluccana), coffee (Coffea arabica), patchouli (Pogostemon cablin), and cocoa tree (Theobroma cocoa) and were further categorized as low palatability for elephants. The results then reflect a promising act by planting those species near elephant’s habitat in order to reduce frequency of elephant raiding into rural area.