Diet and nutrient balance of wild Asian Elephants Elephas maximus in Nepal

Diet and nutrient balance of wild Asian Elephants Elephas maximus in Nepal

We estimated the nutritional content of major wild (n = 22) and agricultural crop plants (n = 3) consumed by Asian Elephants Elephas maximus in Nepal during the wet and dry seasons, respectively. We then used nutritional geometry to explore the macronutrient balance of these plant species, as well as the overall diet of elephants in both the dry and wet seasons. Furthermore, we compared the diet of the Nepal elephants with the previously publish…