Population and habitat status of Asian elephants ( Elephas maximus ) in Mengla Sub-reserve of Xishuangbanna National Nature Reserve,Yunnan of China

This study focused primarily on the population and habitat status of Asian elephants in Mengla Sub-reserve of Xishuangbanna National Nature Reserve in the Yunnan Province of China. Data was collected on the number of elephants, their range and human-elephant conflict through local interviews, community monitoring network and field survey during two time periods-the first period was from July 2006 to October 2007 and the second period was from August 2008 to August 2009. Trace-tracking was also used to collect data on major elephant moving lines during the first period. Ecological Niche Factor Analysis (ENFA) with 3S technique was the method used to evaluate habitat quality and predict suitable habitat for Asian elephants. The findings of the study urge conservation measures including anti-deforestation, anti-poaching, ecological corridor building, human- elephant conflict mitigation and trans-boundary cooperation to protect the Asian elephants.