# What Do Asian Elephants Eat?

> Asian elephants eat grasses, bark, fruit and, where forest is gone, crops. Not African savanna copy. Never feed them.

- **Species:** Asian Elephant (*Elephas maximus*)
- **Conservation status:** Endangered
- **Diet:** Herbivore — grasses, bark, roots, fruit, and crops
- **Habitat:** Tropical forests and grasslands across South and Southeast Asia
- **Lifespan:** 60–70 years in the wild
- **Top speed:** Up to 40 km/h (25 mph) in charge
- **Canonical HTML:** https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/asian-elephant/what-do-asian-elephant-eat/
- **Parent profile:** https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/asian-elephant/
- **Last reviewed:** 2026-07-16

## Quick answer

The Asian elephant is the largest land animal in Asia, weighing up to 5,500 kg (12,000 lb) with smaller ears than African elephants and a single 'finger' on the trunk tip. Highly social and intelligent, wild populations are Endangered from habitat loss and human conflict.

## Who should skip this page

Skip this if you need a captive feeding plan from a veterinarian. This page is wild diet, not a pet-care sheet.

## Social structure

Asian elephant herds are matriarchal, led by the oldest female and composed of related females and young. Adult males are mostly solitary or form loose bachelor groups. Communication includes infrasonic rumbles, touch, and scent.

## Help protect the Asian Elephant

Asian elephants face shrinking forests, crop conflict, and poaching across their fragmented range.

[Support elephant rescue](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/appeals/elephants/)

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Source: Global Animal Guide (https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/asian-elephant/what-do-asian-elephant-eat/). Licensed CC BY-NC 4.0 — free for non-commercial reuse with attribution.