What Do Elephants Eat Every Day? The Giant Diet Behind Phuket’s Rescued Elephants

August 2026

• Leaves, twigs, and tree bark — especially bamboo, teak, and fig leaves. Sometimes they even peel off bark for a tasty snack.
• Tender grass in forests and meadows. Occasionally, they pull up roots for an extra boost of energy.
• Fruit is their ultimate favorite: bananas, mangoes, watermelons, papayas, and various wild fruits.
• Aquatic plants such as lotus or reeds when they are near a water source.

Did you know wild elephants eat 200–300 kilograms per day? Having sufficient, nutritious food is crucial to their health and well-being.

If we want to give elephants a better life, let’s support ethical, elephant-friendly tourism!