Donnie Boudreau, age 11, of Montgomery, Alabama, for his question:
How much does an elephant eat a day?
An elephant is not a fellow one invites to lunch. If he came as a weekend guest, we would need a half ton truck to lay in the supplies he normally consumes. Vegetarians need much larger quantities of food than do the meat eaters and the elephant is a strict vegetarian. What's more, the enormous giant needs enormous helpings to maintain his four tons of bulky bones and mighty muscles.
The daily menu of a circus elephant includes about 500 pounds of hay type food and 50 gallons of water. The friendly giant is trained to do the heavy pushing and pulling, heaving and hoisting when the show moves on from town to town. Chances are he also stretches and strains his bulky body to perform in the ring. A smaller amount of meaty protein would provide the energy he needs for his stupendous work. But the elephant is not a carnivore.
A zoo elephant is not expected to work for a living and usually his exercise is limited to a few turns around his enclosure. Naturally he requires less food than a working elephant. Maybe 200 pounds of hay is enough to provide an adequate daily diet. However, like all adult elephants, he needs a daily ration of 50 gallons of water. Aside from the basic hay, working and non working elephants like to vary the daily menu with a few snacks. A lug of apples or fresh vegetables is much appreciated and, as we know, Jumbo loves peanuts.
In India, the Asian elephant does much of the heavy labor. As a rule, his training starts in infancy and after 14 years he can do light work. At the age of 19, he is ready to take on the heavy duties of an adult elephant. It is estimated that his training costs more than $5,000. The trainee is expected to provide his own meals.
A working elephant toils from dawn to dusk for three days. At night is is turned loose to forage for food. After his three day work shift, he gets two full days of rest and relaxation. Every year he gets a three month vacation.
Wild elephants live in herds of 300 or so, including assorted adults and children of all ages. As a rule, their tropical territory is hot and the day is spent snoozing in ti:e shade. At sunset, the congenial family trundles down to drink and bathe. At night they forage for twigs and tender boughs, grasses and roots.
A quarter ton of vegetation is the average daily diet for an active adult elephant. Naturally the children and young adolescents require somewhat less. A newborn elephant weighs about 200 pounds and, being a mammal, he feeds exclusively on mother's milk. He stays very close to Mamma for his first three or four years. By this time, his baby trunk is capable of gathering grasses and other low growing vegetation.