A new study has shed light on the consequences of feeding wild animals, revealing that these seemingly kind gestures can have devastating effects on both humans and wildlife.
The research, conducted by scientists at the University of California San Diego and the Sigur Nature Trust, examined the impacts of tourists supplying food to wild Asian elephants in both Sri Lanka and India.
At Sri Lanka’s Udawalawe National Park, 9–15% of male Asian elephants in the area were spotted seeking food from humans—occasionally even smashing through fences to “beg” for it—with feedings occurring as often as 28 times per hour. These encounters led to multiple human injuries and deaths, a minimum of three elephant fatalities, and elephants ingesting harmful contaminants.
In the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve in Southern India, researchers found that some resorts provided food to elephants nearly every day. As a result, eleven male elephants became habituated, with four later dying and another suffering a serious injury.
Additionally, animals who become dependent on human food may lose their foraging abilities, and feedings can increase the risk of disease transmission across species.
“We therefore maintain that food provisioning of elephants by tourists should be formally banned and strictly enforced,” the study stated.
Lady Freethinker is grateful to the researchers for exposing the dangers of feeding wild animals and hopes their findings will inspire meaningful policy changes and encourage tourists to avoid participating in these encounters.
