The reason behind why elephants push the tree over or break branches for a few natural reasons: 👉Food: Elephants eat leaves, bark, and branches. Knocking over a tree gives them easy access to all parts of it. 👉Water: In dry seasons, elephants may strip bark or dig into tree roots to get moisture. 👉Marking territory: Sometimes they push trees or break branches to mark their presence. 👉Play or dominance: Young or male elephants may push trees just to show strength or for fun. . . . . . . . . .