FOOD HABITS OF ASIAN ELEPHANT (Elephas maximus maximus) IN HANDAPANAGALA , SOUTH EAST SRI LANKA

Handapanagala tank area is home for the largest Elephant aggregation(Elephas maxim us maxim us) in Wellawaya area during the dry season. Mostof these Elephants come from different areas mainly from adjacent protectedareas such as Yala, Udawalawe and Lunugamwehera National parks. Themain traditional migratory route lies across the study area connecting Yala -through Demodara. The local migration is mainly due to lack of food andwater within the protected areas.The study attempted to find the food habits of elephants in Handapanagalaarea during dry season. This study was carried out for six months. The mainobjectives were to determine both food availability and feeding habits inrelation to the habitats. Food availability and their Relative ImportanceValues (RIV) were estimated using line transect and direct observationmethod within study area. Relative importance values were comparativelyhigh in species like Bauhinia racemosa (12.39 %), Fleuggea leucocarpa(17.32 %), Securinrega leucopyrus (14.3 %). Relative frequency valueindicated that most common species distributed in the study area wereBauhinia racemosa, Dichrostachys cinera, Phyllanthus sp., Premna sp. Themicro histological analysis was done to determine food habits of elephants.The major food plant parts in dung samples were analyzed to identify thecategories of plants consumed by elephants. This study revealed that themajor food items consumed by elephant during dry season were themonocotyledon leaves (65 %), Culm (12 %), Sheath (6 %) and DicotylidensBark (7 %) and, Woody fiber (2%). The predominant grasses identified indung samples were Imperata cylindrica (Gini grass) and Panicum maximum(Illuk). The field observations revealed that the elephants were mainlyconsuming plants in families such as Leguminosae, Graminae,Euphorbiaceae and Verbenaceae. Majority of bark damages were seen inplants such as Bauhinia racemosa (RIV - 12.39), Treminalia arjuna(Kumbuk) and Phyllanthus spp. A total of 112 plant species were identifiedand 35 species (31% of the available plants) were consumed by elephants.The results indicate that the Elephants in the Handapanagala are grazers andmainly feed on tall grasses during the dry season. Results also indicated that there is an impact on forest tree species like Bauhinia racemosa, Fleuggealeucocarpa and Securinrega leucopyrus, which have high RIV. Since thepresent study was carried out during dry season, this should be continuedduring wet season to get a hroad idea about the seasonal changes in foodhabits of Elephants.