Investigating the seasonal habitat use and key factors shaping the distribution of Asian elephant in the Melagiris

For wide-ranging species, such as the Asian elephant (Elephas maximus), understanding seasonal variation in habitat use is crucial for effective conservation and management planning. The Melagiris, India, is a key area for biodiversity conservation, encompassing multiple wildlife sanctuaries and serving as a vital ecological corridor. Despite its ecological significance, elephant distribution in the region remains understudied and the loss of highquality forest areas is suspected to have altered elephant habitat use, potentially contributing to an observed rise in human-elephant conflict. To address this, we employed an occupancy-based approach to assess elephant habitat use in the Melagiris during the pre- and post-monsoon seasons, whilst accounting for imperfect detection. The probability of habitat use was estimated as 0.28 (+/- SE 0.11) in the pre-monsoon season, increasing to 0.57 (+/- SE 0.09) post-monsoon, highlighting seasonal shifts in elephant distribution. The analysis revealed a quadratic relationship between elephant habitat use and Enhanced Vegetation Index, with a stronger post-monsoon preference due to optimal forage. Additionally, water availability showed a positive association with habitat use in the pre-monsoon season, emphasizing the importance of surface water during dry periods. Model predictions indicated a higher probability of elephant habitat use in the eastern parts of Melagiris, particularly during the post-monsoon season, and these areas were concentrated near protected area boundaries. Our findings form a baseline for future monitoring efforts in Melagiris and our predictions of elephant site use can be used to identify core patches of elephant habitat and priority zones for conflict mitigation and conservation planning.