Among 24 captive elephants in Surin, six with minimal supplementation and 18 with frequent heterogeneous supplementation showed no alpha-diversity or main beta-diversity difference (Bray-Curtis R²=0.053, p=.092). After FDR, only Caldisericota differed; LEfSe highlighted Prevotellaceae.
Key findings
- Firmicutes (54.80%) and Bacteroidota (26.30%) dominated. Diversity tests were non-significant; Caldisericota appeared only in H (q=.022), while LEfSe found Prevotellaceae enriched in L (LDA=4.17).
Why this matters globally
Monetised social-media feeding affects captive animals globally; this work raises welfare questions and tests microbiome as one indicator, not a direct health outcome.
Thai researcher contribution
Mahasarakham veterinarians and the Zoological Park Organisation applied genomics to a distinctive Thai practice involving culturally and conservation-important Asian elephants.
Limitations to consider
Groups were tiny and imbalanced, without randomisation, baseline diet or within-elephant longitudinal control. Heterogeneous foods prevent attribution; 16S is compositional, and LEfSe signals need confirmation.