You’ve probably seen this image of a cute cartoon elephant with its trunk stuck in a popcorn box full of peanuts! But if elephants are allowed into movie theaters, do they really get anything? (I think it will be King’s Castle!) Do elephants really eat peanuts? If not, why do we think so? what do elephants eat
Have you ever heard of Georgia being called the Elephant State? No, me too. But you may have heard it called the Peanuts State. Georgia produces about 50 percent of the U.S. peanuts. Other countries that produce peanuts are China, India and Nigeria. These are produced on peanut farms that supply the world with peanut products like peanuts and peanut butter. The point is that peanuts are not a natural plant in any habitat that elephants live in, so the answer is no, elephants don’t really eat peanuts!
Where did the idea that elephants like peanuts come from?
It is a common practice for circuses and zoos to sell peanuts to feed elephants. So it started as an entertainment. This has led to the misconception that elephants like and eat peanuts in the wild. Peanuts are no longer sold to zoo visitors or used by circuses to feed elephants. Scientists believe peanuts are not a healthy choice for elephants because they are too high in protein. So what do elephants eat?
what do elephants eat
Elephants do not eat peanuts, but food rich in leaves, grass, bark, fruit, etc. Below you’ll find a more complete list of everything elephants eat.
- Grass
- Leaves
- bark
- fruit
- seed
- stem
- Banana (Asian Elephant)
- Rice (Asian Elephant)
- Sugar cane (Asian elephant)
How Much Do Elephants Eat?
Elephants can often weigh up to 7 tons (the largest ever recorded weighed 12 tons!)!To maintain their weight, they need to eat a lot of. Elephants consume an average of 300 pounds of food per day. In order to be able to do this, they need to eat most of the day, 12-18 hours a day! They also have to drink enough water to support their system, so they consume 30-50 gallons of water per day.
Do any animals like peanuts?
Besides my dog who loves peanut butter, does any animal love peanuts? Yes, many birds love peanuts and include the nut as part of their diet. Woodpeckers, crows, cardinals and jays have been known to eat peanuts. This is why peanuts are often part of the bird food mix. Peanuts are a healthy choice for birds because they are high in fat, provide a lot of calories, and are especially handy in the winter. Squirrels usually eat acorns because of their easy availability, but they also love peanuts.
If elephants did like peanuts, I believe there would be large numbers of elephants fleeing from Africa and Asia to Georgia (on cruise ships?), but that doesn’t seem to be the case. Zoo Atlanta has elephants and they report that their favorite foods are apples, carrots, sweet potatoes and romaine lettuce!
I am broadly interested in how human activities influence the ability of wildlife to persist in the modified environments that we create.
Specifically, my research investigates how the configuration and composition of landscapes influence the movement and population dynamics of forest birds. Both natural and human-derived fragmenting of habitat can influence where birds settle, how they access the resources they need to survive and reproduce, and these factors in turn affect population demographics. Most recently, I have been studying the ability of individuals to move through and utilize forested areas which have been modified through timber harvest as they seek out resources for the breeding and postfledging phases. As well I am working in collaboration with Parks Canada scientists to examine in the influence of high density moose populations on forest bird communities in Gros Morne National Park. Many of my projects are conducted in collaboration or consultation with representatives of industry and government agencies, seeking to improve the management and sustainability of natural resource extraction.