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.
