Population Estimation of the Asian Elephants (Elephas Maximus) in Bago Yoma, Central Myanmar

摘要

A status survey, population evaluation and preparation of a conservation action plan for the Asian elephant in Bago Yoma, Myanmar was initiated. Line transects of indefinite width were used for estimating dung density in five forest reserves such as South Zamari, North Zamari, Yenwe, Idokan and Okkan in Bago Yoma. Free ranging captive elephants were selected for defaecation study. For estimating daily rate of decomposition of the dung piles, fresh dung piles were monitored. A dung encounter rate of 2.42 km~(-1) was estimated, it varied across the regions from 0.8 to 4.2 km~(-1) and it was higher in south Zamari 1 than in north Zamari. The mean defaecation rate for the region was 20.02 d~(-1) and overall decay rate was 0.072 ~(-1). The elephant density varied from 0.4 to 5 elephants km"2 and the average density of elephant for Bogo was 1.6 animals km'2. In relation to a specific usage zone for all the regions surveyed, south Zamari appears to more used and though North Zamari has relatively larger area than the other regions surveyed, it is less used by elephants. In the low utilization zone the near-absence of elephants was attributed to disturbance from logging operations.