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Bambi’s Delicate Grazing

Because the rainy season has created a whole world of fresh, green grass around the sanctuary, you can find all of the elephants grazing almost constantly. Wild elephants graze for 15-20 hours a day, and our sanctuary residents have the same luxury of being able to eat all day if they choose.They have a buffet of food to feast on almost everywhere they go. 

Sometimes Bambi is a gregarious eater, but here she’s chewing a smaller, daintier bite than she might normally take. Instead of grabbing large mouthfuls, she has decided to be selective, picking small trunkfuls of the specific kind of grass she likes. She’s clearly in no hurry since she knows her food grows everywhere and she doesn’t have to share. 

Along with satisfying psychological and physical needs, the ability to graze and having copious amounts of vegetation at their disposal is also good for socialization. It cuts down on individuals being food possessive and competing for food -another stressor that occurs in captivity with elephants.

Comments(7)

  1. REPLY
    Pamela Hall says
    January 26, 2023 at 2:44 pm

    Does “regional cuisine” affect their digestion? They have been moved and live so many places I can imagine different plants, etc. Can cause trouble.

    • REPLY
      Sara says
      January 26, 2023 at 2:49 pm

      Their digestion becomes healthy and normal with a natural diet. It makes a big difference and allows them to get nutrients they might have been missing in other captive situations.

  2. REPLY
    Wim says
    January 26, 2023 at 3:27 pm

    So sweetly and relaxed. Feels like elephant justice.

  3. REPLY
    Julie says
    January 26, 2023 at 7:15 pm

    I never thought of that stressor. Perhaps food possessiveness contributed to the problems between Bambi and Maison? Anyway, Bambi looks like a different elephant now. So beautiful to see!

  4. REPLY
    Tracy H says
    January 26, 2023 at 8:31 pm

    Looks and sounds like pure paradise! Love me some Bambino. She is such a cutie

  5. REPLY
    Tammy says
    January 26, 2023 at 10:12 pm

    15-20 hours a day grazing wow so approximately how many pounds of food would that be per day?

    • REPLY
      Sara says
      January 26, 2023 at 10:46 pm

      It’s estimated that Asian elephants can eat up to 300 pounds per day.

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