00:00Borneo elephants, a distinct subspecies of Asian elephants, are now classified as endangered
00:07on the International Union for Conservation of Nature's IUCN Red List of Threatened
00:12Species.
00:13Primarily found in Sabah, these elephants, also known as pygmy elephants, have a small
00:19population in Indonesia's Kalimantan as well.
00:22There are an estimated 1,000 Borneo elephants left, including 400 breeding adults.
00:28This species is genetically unique, having separated from other elephant populations
00:33tens to hundreds of thousands of years ago.
00:36They are smaller and have distinct skull shapes compared to mainland elephants.
00:41The Asian Elephant Specialist Group has facilitated the Bornean elephant's inclusion in the Red
00:46List, emphasizing the urgent need for its conservation.
00:51Known as gentle giants due to their peaceful nature, pygmy elephants have lost about 60
00:57of their forest habitat in the last 40 years, primarily due to logging and the expansion
01:03of commercial oil palm plantations.
01:05The IUCN's classification highlights the urgency for conservation efforts to protect these
01:11genetically unique elephants.
01:13WWF Malaysia Elephant Conservation Manager Dr Cheryl Chia stressed the need for collaborative
01:19conservation efforts such as managing human-elephant conflicts and preventing habitat loss.
01:25Both the Malaysian and Indonesian governments have conservation plans for Borneo's elephants,
01:30but challenges remain.
01:32The IUCN Red List's recognition provides a strong impetus for their conservation, emphasizing
01:39habitat protection, community support, and anti-poaching measures to secure the future
01:44of these unique elephants.
01:55For more UN videos visit www.un.org
Comments