Application of Four Body Condition Scoring Indices to Assess the Well-being of Asian Elephant (Elephas maximus maximus) at the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage, Sri Lanka

Abstract

The Sri Lankan elephant (Elephas maximus maximus) was declared an endangered species in 2008 along with the three other subspecies. The primary threat to elephants in Sri Lanka, as elsewhere, is habitat loss and fragmentation, leading to Human-Elephant Conflict (HEC). Annually, due to HEC, about 70 humans and 250 elephants lose their lives, and about 14 elephant calves become orphans. Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage (PEO) is an institution for taking care of elephants orphaned in the wild in Sri Lanka. As a decent indicator of health and management, the body condition score (BCS) index is being subjectively used, which measures the body fat reserves of animals, particularly over the bony prominences. The study aimed to assess the body condition of elephants in the PEO using BCS indices, to determine the most suitable BCS index. Additionally, efforts were made to identify outlier elephants and propose remedies to enhance veterinary attention and improve their respective situations. The standard BCS estimation methods described by Wemmer (BCSWe), Fernando (BCSFe), Wijeyamohan (BCSWi) and Morfeld (BCSMo) were used to assess the body condition of 62 elephants at PEO. BCSWe and BCSWi are complexed, detailed and there is a substantial overlap of elephant body features considered in the two methods. BCSFe and BCSMo were found to be relatively simple. The analysis revealed that the body conditions of elephants in PEO were independent of age, sex, or origin. Four elephants were outliers for the lower end, while six elephants scored the highest score for all BCS indices. It is believed that the food, nutrition and other resources available do not influence the body condition of the elephants in PEO, but their health and age affect the body condition. BCSFe is the ideal index for assessing the body condition of the elephants in PEO.