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Pupy’s Organic Snack

April 25, 2025

We’ve talked in the past about how elephants seem to know what is and is not okay for them to eat. While we’d never grow things in the habitat that could potentially be harmful for them, they have an innate sense of what is good for them and might provide nutrients. There are roots on the property that the Asian elephants snack on, likely having discovered that they have some benefit. Caregivers give them supplementary meals, vitamins, and minerals, but nature can provide a multitude of things for the girls. 

Here, Pupy has sought out some tasty grass and weeds. What she’s eating is nothing out of the ordinary, but the grass in the female African habitat is different from what grows in the female Asian habitat. It’s as though the property was specifically designed with each species in mind. You can see that Pupy sometimes takes grass directly into her mouth rather than picking it with her trunk. This is likely because of the long-term issue with her trunk’s strength. We’ve never seen an elephant who regularly snacks on grass without using her nose. She’s adapted many ways of dealing with a lack of trunk strength and this is just one of them.

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Comments(9)

  1. REPLY
    Jo Alex SG says
    April 25, 2025 at 2:36 pm

    It’s such a relief to see Pupy so well cared for in that blessed sanctuary, thank you for the lovely updates.

  2. REPLY
    Maureen says
    April 25, 2025 at 4:00 pm

    It seems like she can pull up very small bites with her trunk but nothing very substantial, which is when she tried to eat it directly with her mouth. Hopefully this weed is in more places in the habitat as this spot was so close to the fence she looked like she couldn’t get her whole head down to the initial spot as it was a little close to the fence. Either way, it’s wonderful that she has found something in the habitat the she enjoys snacking on.

    • REPLY
      Sara says
      April 25, 2025 at 4:03 pm

      She definitely found plenty to snack on!

  3. REPLY
    Katherine says
    April 25, 2025 at 4:10 pm

    Let’s hope her trunk strengthens over time at sanctuary

  4. REPLY
    Lili says
    April 25, 2025 at 6:16 pm

    Gracias, Sara, por mantenernos informados sobre todos los detalles de Pupy en su nueva vida. Quienes no conocemos en profundidad los hábitos de estos hermosos grandotes, estamos aprendiendo muchísimo a través de tus comentarios. Es evidente que Pupy se está adaptando maravillosamente a su nueva vida digna.
    Es un placer leerte día a día. Saludos desde Mendoza, Argentina!

    • REPLY
      Sara says
      April 25, 2025 at 8:02 pm

      Thank you and greetings!

  5. REPLY
    Patricia says
    April 26, 2025 at 12:21 am

    Oh, I love her so much!!! 💞🐘💞

  6. REPLY
    Alida says
    April 26, 2025 at 12:29 am

    You are so smart Pupy sweetheart! 😊 I can’t get enough of watching her videos and seeing how she’s evolving and loving her new life. Thanks GSB! 💕

  7. REPLY
    Julie says
    April 27, 2025 at 11:09 am

    Eat your vegetables, pretty Pupy!

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