The body condition of Sri Lankan domesticaded elephants (Elephas maximus maximus)

Abstract

The body condition of domesticated Sri Lankan elephants has not been scientifically evaluated although many believe that it is poor. The objective of this study was to evalute the body condition of domesticated elephants in Sri Lanka using an index developed by Wemmer and Krishnamurthy (1992). This method of assessing relies on visual assessment and numerical scoring of six criteria (temporal depression, scapula, thoracic region, flank area, lumbar vertibrae and pelvic bone) resulting in a scale of 0-11. The study was conducted between 1st April 1993 and 1st April 1994 in 13 administrative districts using 140 domesticated elephants. The results show that the mean body condition index of the present day domesticated elephants is 6.95+/- 0.26 points (mean +/- SEM). MAles had significantly lower body condition index (6.63+/-0.22 points) than that of females (7.3+/-0.21points) and there was no significant (r=0.398, p=1, n=140) correlation between the age and the body condition index of elephants. Further, the body condition index was not significantly different between the elephants which were owned by private individuals or temples and dewales (p=0.71) and maintained by the mahouts or the owners(p=0.21)