Abstract: Trace-tracking and transects were used in the surveys on the habitat and behaviors of Asian elephant ( Elephas maximus) during dry and rain seasons in Simao , Yunnan of China. The transects were made about 2 km each through the elephant habitat and collected data on vegetation type , food species , habitat disturbances , population status , frequency of elephant sightings and other wildlife sightings reported from the area. Totally 21 transects and 170 elephant trace points were tracked from March 2000 to March 2002. All transect locations and villages have been recorded through GPS. There were 457 species of wild plants recorded in 5 different vegetations types in the elephants’range. Behavioral study focused on a herd of five female elephants (3 adults , 1 juvenile and 1 calf) roaming in the area. The home range size of the herd , determined by trace spots during dry season survey , was totally 35.67 km² , and with 3 core foraging areas (3.65 km² , 2.79 km² and 3.29 km² ) where provided most of the foods resources for the herd. The home range size of the herd determined by trace spots during rain season survey was 18.42 km² , and with only showed one core foraging area (9.08 km² ) .There were 19 species of wild plants recorded as the main elephants’food resource in the field during the dry season , and 8 of them were major elephant’s food. During the raining season , only 5 wild plant species were recorded that were seldom eaten by elephants. Mean while , we found the elephants foraged on 7 kinds of local crops during the dry season. We also found that wheat , corn and other crops supported nearly 80 % the food supplies of the elephants in this period1 It was indicated that natural food supplies in elephant’s habitat in Simao were not enough for them , so that the elephants herd relied on crops to satisfy their food desires during rain season under the high pressure and threats of human activities in the habitat , the elephants adapted the environment well towards food resource and human disturbance. How to prevent the habitat fragmentation , and to restore the original vegetation for providing enough natural food resources will be key tasks to the conservation efforts for the elephants in Simao.

Key words: Asian elephant, Simao of Yunnan, Habitat selection, Home range, Comestible

摘要： 以思茅市境内栖居的一个由5 头雌象(3 头成年体, 1 头亚成体, 1 头幼体) 组成的象群为研究对象, 利用痕迹追踪、样线调查和村庄调查等方法对野生亚洲象的栖息地选择和行为进行了初步研究。在栖息地中共记录到野生高等植物457 种, 组成5 种植被类型。旱季象群的活动区域面积是35.67 km² , 该活动区域中有3 个核心活动区, 面积分别是3.65 km² , 2.79 km² 和3.29 km² , 象群对此3 个活动核心区域循环利用; 在旱季亚洲象经常取食19种野生植物, 其中主要取食的有8 种, 还取食7 种农作物, 对农作物有一定依赖性, 这种依赖的程度随着农田周围森林中野生食物丰富程度的增加而降低; 在季雨林中亚洲象主要取食的植物种类最丰富。雨季象群的活动区域面积是18.42 km² , 该区域中只有1 个核心活动区, 面积9.08 km² 。雨季亚洲象只取食5 种野生植物, 另取食5 种农作物, 农作物为其雨季主要食物。研究结果表明, 思茅地区亚洲象栖息地中的野生食物可能不足, 人类活动对亚洲象的生存干扰较为严重, 亚洲象的行为表现出对栖息地内食物条件和人类干扰的适应。建议尽快遏止日益严重的栖息地片断化趋势, 恢复自然植被并为亚洲象提供充足的野生食物是保护该物种的关键。

关键词: 亚洲象, 云南思茅, 栖息地选择, 活动区域, 食性