The effect of antrophogenic noise on Sumatran Elephant’s anti-predator behavior in the Elephant Conservation Center

Abstract

The increase of human activity around forest area causes noise anthropogenic effect to animals. This long-term effect can lead to decrease behavior and impact on species composition and inter-species interactions. Sumatran Elephants are classified as endangered animal. This study aims to determine the effect of noise on the Sumatran elephant’s anti-predator behavior and the difference in behavioral response based on the difference noise exposure time. The observation was conducted to Sumatran Elephants in Elephant Conservation Center Saree, Aceh Besar District. Observation method was animal focal sampling technique. The data was analyzed using the chi square test with a significant level of 5%. Based on the results of the chi-square test, the value of sig is 0.000 or smaller than 0.05, indicate that there is an effect of noise toward anti-predator behavior. The observed Sumatran elephants also look more responsive to the noise that is sounded in the morning. Noise can interfere with prey perceptions of predators and correlate with increased energy use.

Short Communication: Assessing the relationship of Sumatran elephant’s movement (Elephas maximus sumatranus) with vegetation intensity in Kotaagung Utara, Lampung Province, Indonesia using NDVI method

“…Apart from having a smaller land area compared to others, elephants are also one of the animals with a high level of sensitivity, making them minimize their activity on human territory. According to Abdullah et al (2019), elephants can detect sounds in the frequency range from 1-20,000 Hz, with a hearing distance of roughly 10 km. Therefore, increased human activities around elephant habitats, such as mining, agriculture, or urbanization, will generate noise effects that decrease the quality and quantity of elephant habitats, which can impact population decline.…”