PERTANIKA JOURNAL OF SOCIAL SCIENCES AND HUMANITIES

Habitat loss affects survival of hornbills in the wild and their dipping numbers has led Malaysia to classify them as threatened species. Thus, their habitat must be protected thorough greater conservation efforts to prevent extinction of that species. Royal Belum-Temengor forest complex in Perak State Park with a total area of 32,733.9 hectares, is one of the last remaining frontiers for the hornbills in Malaysia. This study attempts to justify a spatial site analysis of effective habitat conservation for hornbills. In addition, it aims to identify suitable habitat for hornbills using spatial characteristics. Analysis of Landsat 5TM satellite image in the study area was used to identify the most suitable habitat for the hornbills in Royal Belum–Temengor Forest Complex. The findings showed that the forest complex's spatial characteristic is suitable with ideal characteristics for the survival of hornbills such as density of vegetation, swamp areas or water bodies, and mature size of emergent and canopy layer of trees. It is hoped this information will help conservationists and researchers to design a sound conservation and management plan to ensure long term survival of these birds.