International Union for Conservation of Nature lists Borneon pygmy elephants as endangered
Published on: Saturday, June 29, 2024
By: Nikko Fabian
.jpg "International Union for Conservation of Nature lists Borneon pygmy elephants as endangered")
The Borneon pygmy elephant.
Kota Kinabalu: The Borneon pygmy elephant has been officially classified as endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species.
This distinct subspecies of Asian elephants is primarily found in Sabah, with a smaller population in Indonesia’s Kalimantan.
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The latest assessment estimates that only around 1,000 pygmy elephants remain, including 400 breeding adults.
These pygmy elephants are genetically unique, having diverged from other elephant populations tens to hundreds of thousands of years ago.
They are characterised by their smaller size and distinct skull shapes compared to mainland elephants.
Despite their genetic uniqueness, these gentle giants have faced significant challenges, losing about 60pc of their forest habitat over the last four decades, mainly due to activities such as logging and the expansion of commercial oil palm plantations.
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The IUCN's classification of the pygmy elephants as endangered underscores the pressing need for conservation efforts to safeguard these genetically unique creatures.
Conservation strategies informed by the Red List designation are crucial for addressing extinction risks and are instrumental in implementing the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
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As countries work towards fulfilling their commitments under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, detailed assessments like the one conducted on the Borneo population of Asian elephants provide essential insights and case studies for conservation efforts.
The recognition of the pygmy elephants as endangered highlights the urgency of protecting these unique creatures and emphasises the importance of habitat preservation, community engagement and anti-poaching measures to ensure their future survival.
Experts, including Prof Adrian Lister from London’s Natural History Museum and WWF-Malaysia Elephant Conservation manager Dr. Cheryl Cheah, stress the significance of collaborative conservation initiatives to address human-elephant conflicts and prevent further habitat loss.
Establishing wildlife corridors through oil palm plantations is identified as a critical measure to connect forest patches, enabling elephants to move freely and maintain genetic diversity.
While both the Malaysian and Indonesian governments have conservation plans in place for Borneo’s elephants, challenges persist.
The IUCN Red List's recognition of the pygmy elephants as endangered provides a strong impetus for conservation efforts, emphasising the importance of habitat protection, community support and anti-poaching measures to secure the future of these unique and endangered elephants.
The establishment of wildlife corridors, habitat preservation and community involvement are essential steps to protect and expand the forest habitats of these remarkable animals.
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