AGE DETERMINATION IN ASIAN ELEPHANTS (Elephas maximus) BY DIFFERENT METHODS
Loading...
Date
2018-09
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
KARNATAKA VETERINARY, ANIMAL AND FISHERIES SCIENCES UNIVERSITY, BIDAR
Abstract
A study was undertaken for determination of age in Asian elephant (Elephas
maximus) by using different methods. Different morphometric measurements of 84 male
elephants and 35 female elephants were taken. A total morphometric data of 119 animals
belonging to 5 different places were analyzed by multiple regression analysis revealed
that age was influenced by parameters like shoulder height and body length in males,
right tusk girth was more significantly effecting than left tusk girth, whereas chest girth
was more influenced by age in female elephants. Using this data the best fit equation was
derived for male and female elephants separately to determine the age Y = - 61.254 +
0.277(H) ** + 0.536(L) ** Where, Y = age in years, H = height, L = length, ** represents
that H and L is significant and Y = -54.615 + 0.720 (CG) ** Where, Y = age in years,
CG= chest girth respectively. The morphological observations by visual method were to
some extent yielded results which were not accurate and was with lot of variations.
Hence visual method yielded only approximate age which could be used for age classes.
The most useful methods according to this study was determination of age through
dentition that was by lamellar number, stage of molar in progression, length and width of
molar teeth and by using age reference line method in the mandibles. The 12 specimens
of unknown age were used for the present study. Age Reference Line method could be
successfully used in Asian elephants to allocate the age.