Objectives

The main objectives of my study are to determine if there is any relationship between food intake by elephants and:

• availability
• plant nutrient value
• antiquality factor (toxins and heavy metals)

Methods

Study Area: Yala, Udawalawe and Lunugamvehera National Parks

Food availability will be analyzed in three different types of habitats. This will be done in the dry and wet seasons in one year. 1 m x 1 m plots will be monitored in the grassland and 10 m x10 m plots will be monitored in the scrubland and mature forest. In each plot the number of species and individuals per species will be counted and the proportion which shows signs of browsing determined.

For the nutritional and antiquality factor analyses, up to 15 plant species will be sampled for each of the three habitats:

5 - most likely to eat
5 - moderately likely to eat
5 - not consumed

The following will be analyzed for each sample:

• energy
• water
• protein
• crude fatty acid
• carbohydrate
• crude fiber
• ash
• P, K, Na, P, Ca, Mg, Zn, Cu and Fe

Expected Outcome

An assessment of what factors influence diet selection by elephants.