Availability and Utilization Pattern of Forage Plants in relation to their Nutritive Values by Wild Elephants in South West Forests

The study was carried out on the availability and utilization pattern of various wild plant species by migratory elephants in relation to their nutritive values. It wasobserved that migratory elephants were selective for food plants in the wilderness. Out of 52 recorded plant species, only 22 plant species were found to be utilized either fully or partially as evidenced by branch breaking, debarking, uprooting etc. Overall utilization of food plants revealed that Diospyros melanoxylon was utilized maximum (34.39%) followed by Pterocarpus marsupium (24.86%) among all the plants consumed by migratory elephants. Bark of Buchanania lanzan was moderately utilized (10.58%). All other recorded plants were utilized below 10 per cent. Chemical composition of some wild plants consumed by elephants revealed that crude protein content varied form 3.18 (Shorea robusta) to 21.25 (P. marsupium) g per cent. High protein content of P. marsupium leaves might be the reason for highest degree of utilization. Crude fibre content ranged from 20.0 (P. marsupium) to 54.0 (D. melanoxylon) per cent.