There are almost 20 % female birth and 80 % is male birth of elephant baby in breeding centre, what could be the possible reasons explaiing this and can we revert this situation?
Hi Krishna,
What is the sex ratio in the population of elephants that have reproductive potential?
I know from other studies that if there are too many of one sex, ie. females, then this could result in a shift in sexes being born as to bring the population sex ratio back to a 1:1 ratio.
Please let me know of any additional information and I will try and be as helpful as possible.
The Clutton-Brock et al studies on red deer come to mind immediately. Not sure how they might help but I recall the birth sex ratios were skewed towards males in dominant mothers and towards females in nutritionally stressed, subordinate mothers (eg. Kruuk et al, 1999). I have no idea whether elephants do similar things to deer but I can see parallels in other areas of their lives. In the absence of other evidence, perhaps a hypothesis might be developed relating to their husbandry & diet from this? Of course if the consequence would be to increase social or nutritional stress of mothers, it would not be an option.
Good luck.
how many animals are involved and what is the time window of the data collected ?
Is it from single couple or several female and male combination and age of parents?
@Jessie,
The Elephant breeding center in Chitwan, Nepal is unique in a way that it does not have any males. The wild bulls (generally single dominant bull in the area) come and mate with the females housed in breeding center.
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