Elephant Care: Practical Guide for Healthy Elephants

An adult Asian elephant can eat 150 to 200 kilograms of food and drink over 100 liters of water every day. That fact shows how demanding elephant care is. If you look after elephants, your daily routine must cover diet, feet, social needs, shelter and medical checks.

Feeding should focus on bulk roughage—grass, hay and browse—plus seasonal fruits and vegetables as treats. Avoid high-sugar commercial feeds and use supplements only under a vet's advice. Divide food into multiple feedings across the day to mimic natural grazing and to prevent boredom. Weigh food and track body condition weekly so you spot weight gain or loss early.

Foot health is the top chronic issue for captive elephants. Inspect feet daily for cracks, soft spots, heat or foul smell. Keep hard surfaces limited and provide well-draining substrates like sand or packed earth. Regular trims by experienced staff prevent overgrowth and painful abscesses. If an elephant lands unevenly or limps, isolate and check the foot immediately.

Elephants are social and mentally active. Housing a lone elephant raises stress and health problems. Provide companionship with compatible individuals or create visual and auditory contact. Enrichment matters: tree branches, puzzle feeders, logs to push, and mud wallows reduce stereotyped behaviors and improve muscle use. Rotate enrichment items to keep curiosity high.

A clear veterinary plan reduces emergency visits. Schedule biannual exams including bloodwork, fecal checks and dental inspections. Keep a vaccination and deworming calendar based on regional risks. Train elephants for voluntary procedures like blood draws and oral exams using positive reinforcement to cut stress and the need for sedation.

Safe handling saves lives. Use protected contact or barriers so staff never share free space with the animal. Train all handlers in de-escalation, body language and escape routes. Wear boot and hand protection, and never work alone when moving an elephant. Have an emergency plan with sedatives, transport options and contact numbers for the on-call vet.

Design habitats to match the local climate. Shade, windbreaks and dry resting areas are essential. Provide deep drinking pools and mud baths for skin care and temperature control. Fencing must be sturdy and tested; paths should allow quiet movement without sudden encounters with visitors.

Know common warning signs: reduced appetite, chronic diarrhea, weight change, persistent lameness, nasal or eye discharge, or sudden aggression. Document any change and call the vet early. Early treatment stops small problems from becoming life-threatening.

Keeping elephants is a big responsibility. Favor accredited sanctuaries and programs that prioritize welfare, social groups and natural behaviors. Ask about staff training, enrichment routines and veterinary support before getting involved. Good care protects elephants and the people who work with them.

Daily care checklist

Daily tasks: check water and troughs, inspect feet, offer fresh roughage, remove harmful objects from range, note behavior and appetite, clean mud baths, record weights and treatments.

When to call a vet

Call the vet at once for high fever, breathing trouble, deep wounds, sudden collapse, severe lameness or prolonged refusal to eat or drink. Keep records to speed diagnosis.