MODELING THE FATE OF SUMATRAN ELEPHANTS IN BUKIT TIGAPULUH, INDONESIA: RESEARCH NEEDS & IMPLICATIONS FOR POPULATION MANAGEMENT
ABSTRACT: The critically
endangered Sumatran elephant persists in mainly small and isolated populations
that may require intensive management to be viable in the long term. Population
Viability Analysis (PVA) provides the opportunity to evaluate conservation
strategies and objectives prior to implementation, which can be very valuable
for site managers by supporting their decision making process. This study
applies PVA to a local population of Sumatran elephants roaming the Bukit
Tigapuluh landscape, Sumatra, with the main goal to explore the impact of
pre-selected conservation measures and population scenarios on both population
growth rate and extinction probability. Sensitivity testing revealed
considerable parameter uncertainties that should be addressed by targeted
research projects in order to improve the predictive power of the baseline
population model. Given that further habitat destruction can be prevented,
containing illegal killings appears to be of highest priority among the tested
conservation measures and represents a mandatory pre-condition for activities
addressing inbreeding depression such as elephant translocation or the
establishment of a conservation corridor.
Keywords: Elephas maximus
sumatranus, population viability analysis (PVA), Asian elephant, elephant conservation,
Vortex
Author: ALEXANDER MARKUS
MOßBRUCKER, MUHAMMAD ALI IMRON, SATYAWAN PUDYATMOKO, PETER-HINRICH PRATJE,
& SUMARDI
Journal Code: jpkehutanangg160003
