Determinaton of sex, age, and spatial distribution of sumatran elephant (Elephas maximus sumatranus) in Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park

Abstract

Habitat degradation, habitat fragmentation, poaching and human elephant conflict (HEC) have resulted in a decline of sumatran elephant (Elephas maximus sumatranus) population and placed it into one of critically endangered animals. Basic information such as sex, age and spatial distribution on the existence of sumatran elephant are needed to prevent sumatran elephants from extinction through good conservation management. We collected 52 faecal samples from Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park (BBSNP) and determined the sex, age and spatial distribution. Sumatran elephant sex was genetically determined based on the gel electrophoresis of 3 genes (PLP1, AMELY2 and SRY1) on sex chromosomes amplified by multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). Age was determined by measuring the mean of boli circumferences. Spatial distribution obtained from mapping coordinate of samples using Quantum GIS. The results of the age-sex identification of the sumatran elephant faecal samples in BBNSP showed that the samples were dominated by 30.8 % sub-adult male, following by 21.2 % sub-adult female, 13.5 % adult females, 9.6 % adult male and 5.8 % juvenile male. However, 19.2 % sex of the samples could not be confirmed. Both, female and male faecal samples were mainly found in shrubby dry farmland area.