The Diet of Sri Lankan Domesticated Elephant (Elephas maximus maximus)

Abstract

The aim of this study was to scientifically document the components of the diets usually given to domesticated elephants of Sri Lanka (Elephas maxim us maximus). The study was conducted between April, 1993 and April, 1994 in 13 of the 24 administrative disricts of the country and was based on 140 domesticated elephants. The respective mahouts and/or owners of these elephants were also interviewed. The results show that the elephants are gi ven a standerd menu consisting of 3 main items [(kitullogs (Caryota urenus L.), coconut fronds (Cocus nucifera L.) and jak branches (Artocarpus integrifolia L.)] and 10 supplementary items [leaves of pota wel (Pothos scandens L.), gonna (Ficus callosa L.), palu (Minilkara hexandra Roxb.), nuga (Ficus bengalensis L.), na (Ficus racemosa L.), attika (Adathoda vasica Nees.), budeliya (Totracera sarmetosa L.), and erabadu (Erythrina variegata F. V. Muell.), leaves and stems of banana (Musa acuminata Colla.)]. Two of the main items, namely kitullogs and coconut fronds are given either singly [weight of Kitul (Caryota urens L.): 273 ± 5.9 kg./day] or in combination [ weight of kitul (Caryota urens) 139 ± 2.9kg/ day and weights of coconut (Cocus nucifera L.) 157±2.8kg/day] withJak (Artocapus integrifolia L.) branches (48 ± 0.94 kg/day). All the elephants were given fruits [banana (Musa acuminata L.), pineapple (Ananas cosmus Lindl.), mango (Mangifera indica L.), wood apple (Feronia limonia L.), papaya (Carica papaya L.), water melon (Citrillus vulgaris Schrad.), sugar cane (Saccharum officinale L.),] and vegetables [bread fruit, jak fruit (Artocarpus integrifolia L.), pumpkins (Cucubita moschata Duch.)] depending on the availability. Some elephants were also given prepared food items (milk rice, oil cakes, kokis, jaggery). Surprisingly, grass was incorporated in the diet of only 5 (3.57%) animals, all belonging to one owner. Kitul appears to be the most preferred food (80%). Two percent preferred coconut and 18% had no special preference to any item of food. Majority of the mahouts were reluctant to feed their elephants with bamboo (Bambusa vulgaris Scharsd.) 76 Godagama, Wemmer and Ratnasooriya and ehatu (Ficus tsiela Roxb.), Six percent of the elephants were gi ven alcohol occasionally by their mahouts. Elephants were usually allowed to drink water 3-4 times/day. The quantity of food given to domesticated Sri Lankan elephants is sufficient but quality can be enhanced further without corrosponding increase in the maintenance costs.