Effect of Comparative Biochemicals and Nutritive Values on Asian Elephant Elephas maximus with Special Reference to Feeding Habits in the Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu, Southern India

This present study attempted to find out nutrient values of wild food plants influenced Asian Elephant Elephas maximus menace on the highway between Coonoor and Mettupalayam. The major objective was to find out comparative and biochemical nutritive values with special reference to elephants feeding habit in Coonoor-Mettupalayam highway. The settlements in the study area were surveyed through questionnaire method in order to find out elephants eaten plants along with field surveys. Altogether, plant parts of twelve different species eaten by elephants were identified from April 2015 to December 2015 and processed for biochemical nutrient value analysis through standard AOAC method. The major eaten plant species were Artocarpus heterophyllus (protein, carbohydrate, fibre, magnesium) Bambusa aurundinacea (minerals), Albizia amara (phosphrus), Carica papaya (fat) and Caryota urens (calcium). Overall, Artocarpus heterophyllus was found having all the critical nutrient values for elephants in the study area. The present study proved that the most preferred species, Artocarpus heterophyllus, in the diet of elephant may be due to odor, taste or nutritive values.