The Bornean elephant, also known as the Borneo Pygmy Elephant, is the smallest subspecies of the Asian elephant (Elephas maximus borneensis). This population is native exclusively to the northeastern parts of Borneo, primarily within the Malaysian state of Sabah and a small region of Indonesian Kalimantan. Classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, its decline is largely driven by habitat loss and fragmentation. Understanding their diet and feeding behaviors is important for effective conservation strategies.
Primary Dietary Components
The diet of the wild Bornean elephant is highly diverse and opportunistic, reflecting the rich biodiversity of their tropical rainforest habitat. As herbivores, they consume a wide variety of plant material.
Grasses form a significant portion of their intake, with elephants often preferring the young, nutrient-rich shoots. They also favor certain monocots, such as bamboo, wild banana plants, and rattan, which provide necessary calories and bulk.
Elephants frequently consume foliage from trees and shrubs, selectively browsing on leaves and small branches. They often prefer specific woody trees, including fig species, which are rich in nutrients. Fruits are another component of their diet; their consumption is important for the ecosystem as elephants play a role in seed dispersal. They also consume tree bark for its concentration of protein, fiber, and minerals, stripping it from trunks when other food sources are scarce.
Foraging Habits and Daily Intake
Bornean elephants are mixed feeders, balancing grazing on ground vegetation and browsing on higher plant matter. This flexibility allows them to utilize resources in both open, grassy areas and dense forest understory.
To meet their energy requirements, a single Bornean elephant must consume an estimated 130 kilograms of vegetation daily. They devote a substantial amount of time to feeding, often spending between 50 and 75 percent of a 24-hour period acquiring food.
The elephant’s trunk is instrumental in this process, used to pluck leaves, strip bark, and tear up grasses and aquatic plants. Their constant movement is characteristic of their foraging strategy, seeing them wander large distances, sometimes covering up to 48 kilometers daily, seeking suitable feeding grounds.
Essential Mineral and Water Consumption
Beyond plant matter, Bornean elephants rely on specialized consumption to acquire necessary micronutrients. They engage in geophagy, the deliberate ingestion of soil or clay, typically from natural salt licks.
This practice is necessary because tropical rainforest foliage often lacks sufficient concentrations of minerals, particularly sodium and calcium. Consuming mineral-rich earth supplements their diet and may also aid in neutralizing toxins found in some plant material.
Water is indispensable for these large mammals; their habitat use is often determined by the proximity of reliable water sources. They must drink at least once daily and are often found near rivers and streams for hydration and bathing. Bornean elephants are adept at crossing water bodies and are capable swimmers.