A new study shows the dangers of feeding wild elephants — from begging and dependence to injury and death.
What’s happening?
Feeding wild animals might seem like a harmless if not outright generous act. But according to research from the University of California San Diego that focused on elephant populations, these interactions can have serious consequences.
The study highlighted by UC San Diego Today focused on tourist-elephant encounters in areas where visitors often offer wild elephants food. The findings show that elephants can quickly become “food-conditioned,” learning to associate humans with snacks. As a result, they can become bolder, more persistent, and more likely to approach humans, sometimes damaging property or endangering lives.
Among the cases the co-authors reviewed from one Sri Lankan national park were instances in which the animals broke through fences, perhaps in search of food like sugary treats. Several people had been killed or injured as a result of such behavior, and at least three elephants had been killed.
“Food-conditioned animals can become dangerous,” the researchers wrote in their paper, published in July in the journal Ecological Solutions and Evidence. “These negative impacts counteract potential benefits.”
The co-authors also noted that animals had sometimes consumed plastic bags that had contained food. In addition to plastic contamination, these human-wildlife interactions can increase the risk of disease transmission.
Why are these findings important?
This research underscores a growing issue: how tourism and well-meaning interactions with wildlife can backfire. Human food and feeding doesn’t just disrupt natural diets and foraging — it can rewire animal behavior.
For elephants, that shift puts them at risk. When they start approaching humans for food, they face greater chances of being hit by vehicles, injured by fences, or even killed in response to crop damage. Human lives can be put in harm’s way too.
But it’s not just about safety. Wild animals becoming dependent on people can throw everything off. They lose important survival skills, such as finding food independently or knowing when to move with their herd. This can almost trap the animals in a loop of begging and risky behavior, jeopardizing their long-term survival.
What’s being done about it?
Researchers say education is key. Tourists and locals alike need clearer guidance on why feeding wildlife is harmful. Some protected areas have started implementing more signage, fines, or ranger-led talks to discourage direct interactions.
You can help by keeping a respectful distance from wild animals and never offering them food — no matter how harmless it may seem. Supporting responsible tour operators, consulting with local experts, and raising awareness can also go a long way. When wild animals are enabled to remain wild, they have a much better chance of thriving and of helping to nurture healthy, wild habitats too.
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