Seasonal Feeding Ecology of the Elephants in the Udawalawe National Park, Sri Lanka: (A Geographical Survey)

Abstract

Elephants (elphahas maximus maximus) play a vital role as the Flag ship Species in Sri Lanka. As the study area, Udawalawe National Park (UNP) is one of the ideal national parks for elephants in the country where they are considered to be a key stone species of the park. The entire area of the park within the declared boundary, together with the reservoir, is 32,315 ha. The major vegetation type of the park includes primary, secondary and degraded secondary forest, grass lands, shrubs and teak plantations. The aim of this study is to explore the feeding ecology of elephants in two different seasons at the UNP, Sri Lanka. Data for this research was obtained through primary and secondary data collection. Primary data was obtained from the east, west and south of the park in April and June through observation and discussions with park officers. Data analysis was carried out based on obtained both qualitative and quantitative data. According to the study, east and south areas of the UNP are drier than the west and north, and the vegetation is comprised of wet monsoon forest in the north, dry monsoon forest in the south. Chenna cultivation is very obvious in the adjoining areas of the park. There are more than 90 dominant plant species belonging to 38 families in the park. Particularly, secondary forest areas and grass lands provide food for around 325 elephants in the park throughout the year. Elephants spend more than 15 hours per day on feeding. During the day time they spend inside the park and at night around 7.00 pm to 1.00 am they spend outside the park especially in March and April. They consume around 140 kilograms of food and 80 - 160 litres of water per day, and they are getting water from Udawalawe reservoir for drinking and also for the purpose of lowering body temperature. Their diet includes different types of grasses, as well as juicy leaves which they are getting from the park and also in March and April they are feeds fruits and vegetable through croup riding outside the park. Beside this, elephants consume minerals from eating red soil which is available in the eastern part of the park, drink underground water for sodium and also eat barking teak trees in the southern part of the park to obtain the minerals from them.