DIET COMPOSITION, FOOD INTAKE, APPARENT DIGESTIBILITY, AND BODY CONDITION SCORE OF THE CAPTIVE ASIAN ELEPHANT (ELEPHAS MAXIMUS): A PILOT STUDY IN TWO COLLECTIONS IN THAILAND

Abstract

Limited data are available regarding the nutrition and feeding of captive Asian elephants in range countries. In this study, feeding regimens of two collections in northern Thailand and their actual diets shaped by availability of forage and mahout preferences were assessed for nutritional quality. The composition of dietary intake, fecal output, and the dietary regimen were individually recorded for 5 days in 10 elephants. The proportion of forage in the diet represented 41 to 62% of the dry matter intake (DMI) in one collection whereas in the other collections it varied between 68 and 72%. Between 8.5 and 24% of the diet consisted of commercial pellets, and hulled rice represented up to 25% of the DMI in one collection. Sugar cane, corn cobs, and fruits such as bananas were eaten in smaller amounts. Body condition scores and weights were measured, which revealed that nine animals were in good condition. Representative samples of each food as well as fecal samples were analyzed for dry matter, crude protein, fat, crude fiber, gross energy, ash, calcium, and phosphorus. Diet adequacy was assessed by calculating the digestible nutrients in the rations and by comparing them to the recommendations from literature. The digestible energy (DE) intake varied between 0.6 and 1.4 megajoules (MJ) per kg(0.75) per day; therefore, higher than the estimated recommendations of 0.65 MJ per kg(0.75) per day for nine of the elephants. In all elephants the crude protein intake was less than the maintenance recommendations and ranged between 6.01 and 7.56% of the DMI. Calcium intake was low in one collection and there was an inverse calcium: phosphorus ratio, which was inadequate. The present study adds to the knowledge of captive elephant diets in Asia and is a starting point for further research, which is necessary to design optimum diet plans for captive Asian elephants in Thailand.

Zoo elephant research: contributions to conservation of captive and free‐ranging species

“…60% of DM), and gut passage rate ( c . 21–46 hours for African elephants compared to 55 hours for Asian elephants, depending on substrate consumed) support the use of the horse as a physiologic model in feeding programmes (see Clauss, Loehlein et al ., for summary; Romain et al ., ; Das et al ., ), although elephant digestion coefficients are generally lower than horses because of their faster gastrointestinal passage rates.…”

“…Certainly zoo-based research has contributed to our knowledge of elephant digestive physiology through controlled studies. Basic investigations of intake [1-2% of body weight on a dry matter basis (DMB)], digestion (average 40-50%, range 20% to c. 60% of DM), and gut passage rate (c. 21-46 hours for African elephants compared to 55 hours for Asian elephants, depending on substrate consumed) support the use of the horse as a physiologic model in feeding programmes (see Clauss, Loehlein et al, 2003 for summary;Romain et al, 2014;Das et al, 2015), although elephant digestion coefficients are generally lower than horses because of their faster gastrointestinal passage rates.…”

“…cane, grass and hay), with minimal produce (about 10% of diet fed) and concentrates (20-30% of diet), resulted in highly digestible diets (i.e. 55-60% digestibility coefficients) and moderate (4-6 out of 10) body-condition scores (Romain et al, 2014).…”

The effects of age, sex and season on the macronutrient composition of the diet of the domestic Asian elephant

“…This study showed that all the elephants met the recommended DMI and variable digestible energy. However, DMI is less informative than is digestible energy intake (Romani et al 2014). Increased NDF digestibility will result in higher energy values, and perhaps more importantly, increased forage intakes.…”

“…Based on this DE: ME ratio, the relative DE intake recommendations thus become 0.68 (DE) MJ per kg per day. This estimate of relative DE for maintenance was used to assess the adequacy of DE intake in the current study because it is commonly used to evaluate requirements of other hindgut fermenters such as horses, rhinos and tapirs (Romani et al 2014).…”