endangered species: World's smallest elephants added to IUCN red list
28 June 2024
By Sarah Hagen
By Sarah Hagen
A unique form of the Asian elephant, the Bornean elephant, has been officially classified as Endangered and added to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species. This recognition follows decades of debate over their status and comes as a crucial step in galvanising conservation efforts.
The IUCN Red List serves as a global barometer of biodiversity, informing and catalysing action for conservation. The newly added Bornean elephant, distinct for its smaller size and wider face, has been confirmed as a unique subspecies of the Asian elephant (Elephas maximus borneensis) and at just 2.5 meters tall are the smallest living elephants.
First named in 1950, the status of Bornean elephants has been a topic of scientific debate, limiting the protections afforded to them. However, recent research led by Professor Adrian Lister from London’s Natural History Museum has provided concrete evidence of their distinctiveness.
Professor Adrian Lister, a leading paleobiologist at the Natural History Museum has been working on the classification of the species for some time. By comparing the skulls of over 120 Asian elephants from the Museum’s collection, Lister and his team discovered that Bornean elephants are smaller and have wider heads than their relatives, as well as a narrower gap where the trunk would be. These details, when combined with genetic studies, confirmed the Bornean elephants as a distinct subspecies.
Currently, only about 1,000 Bornean elephants remain living primarily in the Malaysian State of Sabah, with a small population in the Indonesian State of Kalimantan. These elephants face significant threats from habitat loss due to logging and the expansion of oil palm plantations, as well as poaching and human-wildlife conflict. The team’s research indicates that around 60% of their forest habitat has been lost in the last 40 years, leading to fragmented populations and increased conflicts with humans. The recognition of Bornean elephants as a separate subspecies brings international attention to their plight and boosts efforts to protect them.
Professor Adrian Lister said: “Conserving biodiversity means conserving natural variation at all levels – not only different species but also unique populations within species. The distinctiveness of the Bornean elephant in both appearance and genetics warrants its recognition as a separate subspecies.
“Elephants are a keystone species, playing a crucial role in maintaining the health of rainforests. By conserving these elephants, we’ll be protecting many other species and the broader ecosystem.”
To ensure the survival of these unique elephants, comprehensive conservation strategies are essential. Protecting and expanding their forest habitats, creating wildlife corridors through oil palm plantations, and implementing anti-poaching measures are crucial steps. Additionally, working with local communities to minimize human-elephant conflicts is vital.
Dr Cheryl Cheah of WWF-Malaysia emphasized the critical role this classification plays: “The inclusion of Bornean elephants on the Red List is pivotal in galvanizing conservation efforts and directing resources to areas of utmost importance.”
It is thought that the Red List status of Bornean elephants will help to raise awareness giving hope that the Bornean elephants’ story will be one of recovery and resilience, securing a future for these remarkable creatures and the biodiversity of their forest home.
The IUCN Red List serves as a global barometer of biodiversity, informing and catalysing action for conservation. The newly added Bornean elephant, distinct for its smaller size and wider face, has been confirmed as a unique subspecies of the Asian elephant (Elephas maximus borneensis) and at just 2.5 meters tall are the smallest living elephants.
First named in 1950, the status of Bornean elephants has been a topic of scientific debate, limiting the protections afforded to them. However, recent research led by Professor Adrian Lister from London’s Natural History Museum has provided concrete evidence of their distinctiveness.
Professor Adrian Lister, a leading paleobiologist at the Natural History Museum has been working on the classification of the species for some time. By comparing the skulls of over 120 Asian elephants from the Museum’s collection, Lister and his team discovered that Bornean elephants are smaller and have wider heads than their relatives, as well as a narrower gap where the trunk would be. These details, when combined with genetic studies, confirmed the Bornean elephants as a distinct subspecies.
Currently, only about 1,000 Bornean elephants remain living primarily in the Malaysian State of Sabah, with a small population in the Indonesian State of Kalimantan. These elephants face significant threats from habitat loss due to logging and the expansion of oil palm plantations, as well as poaching and human-wildlife conflict. The team’s research indicates that around 60% of their forest habitat has been lost in the last 40 years, leading to fragmented populations and increased conflicts with humans. The recognition of Bornean elephants as a separate subspecies brings international attention to their plight and boosts efforts to protect them.
Professor Adrian Lister said: “Conserving biodiversity means conserving natural variation at all levels – not only different species but also unique populations within species. The distinctiveness of the Bornean elephant in both appearance and genetics warrants its recognition as a separate subspecies.
“Elephants are a keystone species, playing a crucial role in maintaining the health of rainforests. By conserving these elephants, we’ll be protecting many other species and the broader ecosystem.”
To ensure the survival of these unique elephants, comprehensive conservation strategies are essential. Protecting and expanding their forest habitats, creating wildlife corridors through oil palm plantations, and implementing anti-poaching measures are crucial steps. Additionally, working with local communities to minimize human-elephant conflicts is vital.
Dr Cheryl Cheah of WWF-Malaysia emphasized the critical role this classification plays: “The inclusion of Bornean elephants on the Red List is pivotal in galvanizing conservation efforts and directing resources to areas of utmost importance.”
It is thought that the Red List status of Bornean elephants will help to raise awareness giving hope that the Bornean elephants’ story will be one of recovery and resilience, securing a future for these remarkable creatures and the biodiversity of their forest home.
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