Utilizing spatial modeling to evaluate habitat suitability and develop conservation corridors for effective conservation planning of Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) in Jeli, Kelantan, Malaysia

Abstract

Forest loss and habitat fragmentation threaten Asian elephants by isolating populations, hindering species movement, disconnecting habitat patches, and changing ecological processes. Constructing ecological corridors are considered critical initiatives to conserve Asian elephants by restoring and strengthening connectivity. Although most studies effectively assess habitat suitability for elephants and identify potential conflict areas with humans, they often fall short of utilizing this information to create effective ecological corridors. Therefore, this study aims to determine the potential ecological corridors by considering the conflict area and suitability of Asian elephant habitat in Jeli, Kelantan. In this study, habitat suitability was developed using MaxEnt software, considering seven variables, where distance from the river was identified as the highest contribution to the habitat suitability of Asian elephants, followed by elevation and LULC. The habitat suitability map was then converted to a landscape resistance map, which was used to predict the potential ecological corridors for Asian elephants. The circuit theory and least-cost path were integrated using the Circuitscape software to identify a suitable corridor for Asian elephants. The habitat suitability analysis shows that only 15 % of the study area is suitable for elephants. 50 % of the area is unsuitable because it is far from water sources. The corridor analysis shows that ten suitable corridors were constructed in this study. The longest corridor is 1705 m, while the shortest is 230 m. Thus, suitable habitat conditions, well-connected and well-designed corridors are crucial for elephant populations to survive in a fragmented landscape, mitigate human conflicts, and encourage sustainable and harmonious coexistence.