Preferensi Jelajah Harian Gajah Sumatera (Elephas maximus sumatranus) di Taman Nasional Bukit Barisan Selatan (Daily Range Preferences of Sumatran Elephant (Elephas maximus sumatranus) in Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park)

Abstract

Sumatran elephant (Elephas maximus sumatranus) is classified as a critically endangered species under the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list and is protected under Indonesian law. This study aims to analyze landscape characteristics based on the daily range of Sumatran elephants using Geographic Information System (GIS). The landscape data including land slope, land cover, distance from the source of disturbance and distance to water resources were collected in June–July 2018 and were overlaid to the points tagged from elephant collar GPS in 2011 and 2013 at the Pemerihan Resort, Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park. Data were then analyzed using the GIS platform (ArcGIS 10.5) and then presented in tables and maps. The results showed that the highest preference for the land slope was ranging between 7–15%. The highest preference for land cover was in the form of bushes and forest vegetation, and the highest preferences for the distance from access road of more than 1.000 m. The results also revealed that the highest preferences for the distance to water resource in 2011 were 0–250 m, while in 2013 was 100–200 m.Keywords: Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park, daily range, preferences, sumatran elephants (Elephas maximus sumatranus)