Mapping Asian Elephant Habitat Suitability Index in Alur Taluk, Central Western Ghats: A GIS, Remote Sensing, and Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) Approach for Conservation Assessment

Abstract

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and remote sensing are geospatial technologies that have been used for decades in environmental science, including the collection and analysis of data on the physical disabilities of animals, and modelling of wilderness and site assessment. In this study, remote sensing technology was used. GIS and Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) methods were used to assess the habitat index of Asian elephants. Use of satellite imagery and topographic maps to create environments and habitats, including land use cover (LULC), vegetation (NDVI), water, and elevation models (DEM). Next comes the use of AHP to determine the location, select the location's priority and distribution pattern. This study used to evaluate Asian elephant habitat preference in the Central Western Ghats region of Alur taluk in Hassan district of Karnataka .The results show that 30 percent of the land is covered with forests and 59 percent of the land with population. Most places have an altitude of 8° to 25° and an altitude of 900 m and 1000 m. The amount of water in the region is not limited to the habitat of the elephants. Habitats inhabited by elephants highlight the need for good management inside and outside protected areas to protect these elephants, especially in areas of translocation, to ensure that habitats are compatible. This information will assist those involved in protecting Asian elephants and their environment in the central Western Ghats region.