The primary food source for elephants consists mainly of vegetation, including grasses, leaves, fruits, and bark. As herbivores, elephants require a substantial amount of food to sustain their large bodies; an adult elephant can consume between 200 to 300 pounds of food each day. They are known for their foraging behavior, often using their trunks to reach high branches or dig for roots. Due to their immense size and dietary needs, elephants play a crucial role in their ecosystems, helping to shape landscapes and disperse seeds, which benefits other plant species.