Spatial model of the Sumatran tigers (Panthera tigris sumatrae) prey habitat suitability index in Besitang

Abstract

The Besitang forest landscape is a habitat for Sumatran tigers (Panthera tigris sumatrae) which is one of the key species in Gunung Leuser National Park (GLNP). Deforestation and degradation have caused forest fragmentation so that Sumatran tigers habitat becomes narrow. As the first step in modelling the suitability of Sumatran tiger habitat, it is then knowing the distribution of Sumatran tiger prey needs to be done. The objective of this study was to get information about the suitability distribution of Sumatran tigers’ prey based on biophysic and social factors in Besitang. The Principal Component Analysis (PCA) method is used to select and weight the factors that are thought to influence the distribution of Sumatran tiger prey. Overlay analysis of the factors that influence the habitat suitability is done using Geographic Information System (GIS). The results showed that the index value of habitat suitability of Sumatran tigers’ prey has a range of values from 0 to 1. Areas that have values getting closer to number 1 indicate the area is more suitable for the habitat of Sumatran tiger prey.