HABITAT SUITABILITY ASSESSMENT OF CROP RAIDING ELEPHANT POPULATION IN CENTRAL WESTERN GHATS USING GEOSPATIAL TECHNIQUES
Loading...
Date
2021-12-22
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore
Abstract
Elephas maximus, commonly known as the Asian elephant is an endangered species. Habitat loss and fragmentation lead to an increase in crop raiding in these areas. The present study was carried out to assess the suitable habitat for the elephant in Shakleshpur and Alur taluks in Central Western Ghats. Habitat Suitability Model was developed for elephants by using remote sensing and GIS. Variables such as Land Use Land Cover, Forest cover, Proximity to water source, Elevation, and Slope were used to create a suitability map. Analytical HierarchyProcedure was used to assign weightage to each variable. In this study ever green forest area and built up area was found to be 23% and 40 % respectively. 16 % offorest area was found to be dense to medium. Average elevation was around 900msl. More than half of the area had slope less than 8 % and is near the water source. The study identifies that the forest cover is decreasing due to the conversion of agricultural land which has a severe impact on elephant habitat. Also southeastern pocket of Central Western Ghats is more suitable since Nor theastern part has more human inhabitants. Hence southeastern pocket can be developed into the protected area and marginally suitable areas into a community reserve.