A Study of the Feed Management Practices of Private Elephant Camps in Chiangmai Province

Abstract

Captive elephant must be properly fed to meet their nutritional demands, supporting optimal growth and development to achieve their providing conservation through tourism. This study aimed to revision of the feed management practices of private elephant camps in Chiangmai province. An archival review and in depth interviews of key informants involving the elephant camps owners or managers located in Chiangmai were conducted. The interview showed that staple roughage of most camps was hybrid napier grass while once is sweet corn soilage. The majority of the large elephant camps with more than 30 elephants which were fed by the camp. Elephants' dietary requirements were addressed under the supervision of veterinarians. The delivery of roughage of large camps coincided with small camp size which the middle man played an important role for gathering, harvesting, transporting and feeding the roughage to the elephants raised in the camps. The diary was fed 10 percent of their weight or about 100-120 kg roughage per individual. Most of the camp, roughage was divided into four to five meals each day. The study's findings for the tiny elephant camps' food management revealed that including elephants in greeting activities for eco-tourists so that they can eat while traveling the hiking trails. The camp also bought bananas and sugar cane from local farmers to sell to visitors for the purpose of feeding the elephants. However, a COVID-19 outbreak that occurred during the research period prevented the elephant camp from earning money from the tourism sector, which reduced the amount of food available.