Abstract: The morphological characteristics of wild Asian elephants (Elephas maximus)were recorded by still film and video tapes during Oct. 2004 to Oct. 2005 at the Watching Site in the Wild Elephant Valley in Xishuangbanna,Yunnan, China. Groups and individuals were identified based on data recorded,including group number,sex ratio,age structure, ear characteristics,length,shape,degree and number of tusk,back characteristics,normal or deformed tail hair,the number and distribution of bumps,and the characteristics of face skeleton,etc. During 13 months,we recorded 508 direct observations of wild elephants,and 286 photo or video records were also studied. Based on their morphological characteristics, a total of 46 different elephants were identified,of which 38 belonged to one of seven family groups,and 8 males were bull tuskers. It was also found that elephant groups and bulls appeared seasonally in the area. The appearance frequencies for these 7 groups in the Wild Elephant Valley were significantly different,and were positively related to the group size.

Key words: Asian elephant (Elephas maximus), Individual dentification, Morphological characteristic, Population size, Xishuangbanna National Nature Reserve

摘要： 2004 年10 月至2005 年10 月,在云南西双版纳三岔河野象谷用直接观察、拍照、摄像等方法直接记录野生亚洲象的形态学特征,通过耳、门齿、背、尾、疤痕、面部骨骼等特征对经过本地区的象群和独象进行个体识别并建立个体信息库。直接观测记录野象524 头次,通过照片资料和访问间接记录289 头次,识别为46 头个体,由7 个家族(庭)群共38 头和8 头单独活动的雄象组成;发现象群和独象的活动具有季节性;不同象群在野象谷的活动频次差异显著;象群大小和其在本地区的活动频率之间呈明显的正相关。

关键词: 亚洲象, 西双版纳, 形态学特征, 个体识别, 种群数量