Determining the Dietary Preferences of Wild Asian Elephants (<i>Elephas maximus</i>) in Taman Negara National Park, Malaysia Based on Sex and Age using trnL DNA Metabarcoding Analysis.
Nurfatiha Akmal Fawwazah Abdullah‐Fauzi, Kayal Vizi Karuppannan, Nor Hafisa Syafina Mohd-Radzi, Millawati Gani, Abd Rahman Mohd‐Ridwan, Nursyuhada Othman, Hidayah Haris, Nur Hartini Sariyati, Nor Rahman Aifat, Muhammad Abu Bakar Abdul‐Latiff, Mohd Firdaus Ariff Abdul-Razak, Badrul Munir Md‐Zain
Abstract
(10.80%). Plant variation was lower in samples from male elephants than in those from female elephants. The plant species identified were correlated with the nutrient benefits required by elephants. Adults and subadults consumed more plant species than were consumed by juvenile elephants. However, there was no significant difference between ages and sexes. The findings of this study can be used as guidance by the Department of Wildlife and National Parks for the management of captive elephants, especially in NECC Kuala Gandah.