Human–elephant conflict remains one of the greatest conservation challenges in Odisha state, India (Das et al., 2025). Crop raiding often occurs when natural food resources become insufficient or inaccessible. Identification of the tree species most preferred by elephants and ensuring their adequate availability within forests, forest officials can improve habitat productivity and reduce the need for elephants to forage outside habitat areas. Fodder plantations also established near elephant habitats can act as supplementary feeding zones, decreasing pressure on agricultural lands and promoting coexistence between humans and elephants (Dhamdhere et al., 2026). The Asian Elephant (Elephas maximus) is one of the most ecologically significant large herbivores inhabiting the tropical and subtropical forests of Asia (Figure 1). As a key species and ecosystem engineer, Asian Elephants play an indispensable role in maintaining forest structure, facilitating seed dispersal, creating canopy gaps and enhancing habitat heterogeneity (Behera et al., 2020). In India, Odisha state supports one of the largest populations of Asian elephants in eastern India with herds distributed across diverse landscapes. The long-term survival of these elephant populations depends largely on the availability, diversity and seasonal abundance of natural fodder resources (Sharma et al., 2025). Among the fodder plants, tree species form an important component of the elephant’s diet by providing bark, leaves, twigs, fruits, flowers, roots and young shoots throughout the year. Documenting fodder tree species is therefore a fundamental step in understanding the feeding ecology of Asian elephants. They exhibit clear preferences for certain tree species based on nutritional quality, digestibility, mineral composition, moisture content, seasonal availability and accessibility. Identifying these preferred tree species provides valuable insights into habitat quality, carrying capacity and the ecological requirements of elephant populations. Information on fodder tree species enables wildlife biologists to better understand how elephants utilize forest resources and how changes in vegetation composition may influence their movement patterns and survival. One of the major applications of documenting fodder trees is habitat assessment and management. Forests with high diversity and abundance of preferred fodder trees are generally capable of supporting healthier elephant populations. Conversely, degradation of these tree resources can reduce habitat suitability and force elephants to travel longer distances in search of food. Such movements frequently bring elephants into agricultural landscapes, increasing the incidence of human–elephant conflict.