This paper proposes to develop a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) based best site
selection method for Asian elephant (Elephas maximus maximus) habitat enrichment program
in Yala National Park, Sri Lanka. Despite being nominated as an endangered species, Sri
Lankan elephant population decreased rapidly due to loss, degradation and fragmentation of
their habitats in recent decades. A proper habitat enrichment program is necessary for long
term conservation of them and mitigates the human-elephant conflict in adjacent areas. Other
of the park wildlife also will be benefitted from such program, like leopards, deers, crocodiles,
waterfowls and many other species. In this study some basic applications of GIS were used
appropriately to suggest the most suitable places for habitat enrichment program. ArcMap was
used to organize, analyze and visualize the spatial information about the park and assist in the
site selection and decision making process. A Geo-database with spatial information about the
park, zoning, land use pattern and rivers and water tank system were created and taken in to
ArcMap as layers. Constraint maps with buffers were used to eliminate the unsuitable places
for the program by overlaying. The output results showed few places which are good for the
placement of habitat enrichment program. It is an accurate, simple and efficient way to help the
decision making process for the park managers. The results can be useful for the park managers
in the conservation of elephants and this method is beneficial for wildlife management even in
elsewhere.