Asian elephants are primarily forest animals, preferring a shady environment.
Large areas of closed-canopy forest tend to be avoided. More than two thirds of the day may be spent feeding on grasses, but large amounts of tree bark, roots, leaves and small stems are also eaten. Cultivated crops such as bananas, rice and sugarcane are favoured foods. Asian elephants live in herds based on breeding groups of 3 to 40 females and young. Herds form part of larger related groupings called clans.