Relationship between the Shoulder Height and the Neck Girth of Sri Lankan Domesticated Elephants (Elephas maximus maximus)

Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine whether a relationship exists between the neck girth and the height measured at the shoulder of Sri Lankan elephants (Elephas maxim us maxim us), as proposed for the Burmese timber elephants (Elephas maximus birmanicus) by Gale (1974). The study was conducted between 1 stApril1993 and 1 stApri 1994 in 13 administrative districts of Sri Lanka using 140 domesticated elephants (72 male and 68 female elephants). The results show a significant correlation between the shoulder height and the neck girth of elephants (irrespective of gender) (r=0.4323, p=O.OOI) when considered separately. Linear regression equations for each was Y=-9.89+1.0253 x X, P=O.OOI, Y=-28.46+1.11xX, p=O.OOl, and Y=78.29+0.631OxX, P=O.OOI respectively. (Y=Shoulder height, X, = Neck girth). Further the shoulder height is almost equal to the neck girth in males. However, this was not so for the females.