Giants on an Island: Threats and Conservation Challenges of Elephants Due to Herbivorous Diets

Abstract

Elephants are highly generalized herbivores with a wide dietary range encompassing natural vegetation and cultivated crops. Their foraging strategies vary across different temporal and spatial contexts, as well as among distinct social groups. A significant number of elephants in Asia and Africa reside beyond the boundaries of national parks, nature reserves, and protected areas. Consequently, many elephants face elevated risks of mortality or injury while seeking essential nutrients. This chapter provides an overview of the critical role played by dry-zone forests as habitats for elephants. Furthermore, it explores how human-dominated landscapes influence elephant feeding behaviors and foraging strategies, emphasizing the need to enhance our current understanding of these behaviors and their implications for the future.