Giants in the landscape: status, genetic diversity, habitat suitability and conservation implications for a fragmented Asian elephant (<i>Elephas maximus</i>) population in Cambodia.

ABSTRACT: Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) populations are declining and increasingly fragmented across their range. In Cambodia, the Prey Lang Extended Landscape (PLEL) represents a vast expanse of lowland evergreen and semi-evergreen forest with potential to support Asian elephant population recovery in the country. To inform effective landscape-level conservation planning, this study provides the first robust population size estimate for Asian elephants in PLEL, based on non-invasive genetic sampling during the 2020-2021 dry season in three protected areas: Prey Lang, Preah Roka and Chhaeb Wildlife Sanctuaries. Further, it provides an assessment of the species' range, habitat suitability and connectivity within the landscape using Maxent and Fuzzy suitability models. Thirty-five unique gen

SUBMITTER: Sinovas P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11910960 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature