IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jresou/v13y2023i1p6-d1310165.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Assessment of Nutrients in Natural Saltlicks, Artificial Saltlicks, and General Soils Used by Wild Asian Elephants ( Elephas maximus ) in the Western Forests of Thailand

Author

Listed:
  • Rattanawat Chaiyarat

    (Wildlife and Plant Research Center, Faculty of Environment and Resource Studies, Mahidol University, Salaya, Nakhon Pathom Province 73170, Thailand)

  • Salisa Kanthachompoo

    (Office of Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Industry, Bangkok 10400, Thailand)

  • Nikorn Thongtip

    (Department of Large Animal and Wildlife Clinical Science, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kasetsart University, Kampang Saen, Nakhon Pathom Province 73140, Thailand)

  • Monthira Yuttitham

    (Wildlife and Plant Research Center, Faculty of Environment and Resource Studies, Mahidol University, Salaya, Nakhon Pathom Province 73170, Thailand)

Abstract

Saltlicks are fundamental resources for wild Asian elephants ( Elephas maximus ). This study aimed to assess the nutrients found in natural saltlicks (NSs) and artificial saltlicks (ASs), as well as general soils (GS) in the natural forest of Salakphra Wildlife Sanctuary (SWS) and a restoration area of Kui Buri National Park (KNP), a which is a forest in Western Thailand. We monitored 33 NSs, 35 ASs, and 20 GSs used by wild Asian elephants. In both areas, the K, Mg, Fe, and Cu in NSs were significantly higher than in ASs. The Ca and Zn in NSs of KNP were lower than the ASs of SWS. The salinity of ASs was the highest, making it significantly higher than that of the NSs in both areas. The ASs can supplement Na, thereby increasing salinity in both areas. The Ca, K, Mg, Fe, and Cu in NSs were significantly higher than in ASs, making them a primary target for elephants. These findings have consequences for conserving elephants and other large herbivores by supplementing essential macro- and micro-nutrients in ASs.

Suggested Citation

  • Rattanawat Chaiyarat & Salisa Kanthachompoo & Nikorn Thongtip & Monthira Yuttitham, 2023. "Assessment of Nutrients in Natural Saltlicks, Artificial Saltlicks, and General Soils Used by Wild Asian Elephants ( Elephas maximus ) in the Western Forests of Thailand," Resources, MDPI, vol. 13(1), pages 1-11, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jresou:v:13:y:2023:i:1:p:6-:d:1310165
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2079-9276/13/1/6/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2079-9276/13/1/6/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jresou:v:13:y:2023:i:1:p:6-:d:1310165. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    We have no bibliographic references for this item. You can help adding them by using this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.