APLIKASI PENGINDERAAN JAUH DAN SISTEM INFORMASI GEOGRAFIS UNTUK EVALUASI TINGKAT KESESUAIAN HABITAT GAJAH SUMATERA DI TAMAN NASIONAL TESSO NILO

Sumatran elephants was stated as endangered animal since 1931. Lost of natural habitat was frequently associated with the declining number of it. The aim of this research was to find out the technological capability of remote sensing and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in conducting the mapping level and evaluating the degree of sumatran elephant habitat suitability at the Tesso Nilo National Park. Habitat suitability parameters used were land cover, slope, the availability of food, the availability of water, the density of canopy, and fragmentation. Remote sensing and Geographic Information Systems were utilized in the making of parameter maps and sumatran elephant habitat suitability levels map. Sumatran elephant habitat suitability levels map obtained by overlaying the parameters. Based on the level of habitat suitability map could be seen that Tesso Nilo National Park was dominated by ± 62.763,48 hectares of inhabitable land, ±419,22 hectares of quite inhabitable land and ± 14.437,71 hectares of uninhabitable land. Keywords : Sumatran elephant, habitat, remote sensing, Geographic Information System