Population genetic structure and conservation of Asian elephant in north India inferred from microsatellite DNA

Abstract

: The Asian elephant is a conservation flagship species in tropical Asia, but credible population counts are only known for very few populations. This is because the species is secretive and resides in dense habitat across a vast portion of its range. Over the last two decades, the Lucknow and Jaipur districts of north India have seen an increase in human–elephant conflict. The little amount of somewhat protected habitat available to elephants in this human-dominated terrain does not appear to be sufficient to sustain them in the long term. Options for resolving the increasing dispute include elephant translocation, elephant confinement and culling. We conducted population genetic structure and conservation studies on Asian elephants in the Lucknow and Jaipur districts to ascertain the population’s size and genetic structure relative to the landscape. We obtained fresh dung samples from the field and genotyped those using eight microsatellite loci. In Lucknow and Jaipur districts, we identified a population size of 30 ± 8 (SE) and 62 ± 22 (SE) elephants, respectively. We illustrate how molecular data from non-invasive sampling and capture-recapture models can be used to influence management decisions. Numerous dangers to the population were discovered, including (i) the potential of inbreeding and associated loss of genetic variety, (ii) unauthorized elephant slaughter and (iii) a shortage of protected habitat.