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The gentle giants 2:
The Borneo elephant is a subspecies of Asian elephant, often known as the Bornean elephant or the Borneo pygmy elephant. They are only found in Borneo and they are migratory animals. They create routes in deep forest that other animals can use to travel around, so they play a vital role as a ecosystem engineers. However, consequences happen. We will get to know why these precious forest enigneers are endangered.
Elephant
Taxonamy
Borneo
Pygmy
Elephant
Scientific name
Elephas maximus borneensis
Size
2.5-3m
Population
Decreasing
Type
Elephant
Weights
2,950-5,000 kg
Habitat
lowland valleys and rainforests
Diet
Herbivores
Conservation Status
Endangered
Fun facts!!
They are named 'pygmy' because they are the most miniature elephant in the world!
These pygmy elephant faces are very similar to Disney's Dumbo. They have smaller faces and larger ears than other elephants, somewhat like a baby-face.
They are naturally more gentle than other Asian elephants
Why are they endangered?
Habitat loss. These kind-hearted giants of Borneo are facing the same challenges as other elephants worldwide. Their habitat loss contributes to their conservation status, along with habitat degradation and fragmentation from logging, oil palm plantations, road building and agriculture.
Hunting and Killing. They are also targets of hunting and poaching as a result of the trade in elephant ivory. Due to insufficient food provided by their habitat, they trample or eat the crops of the villagers, which leads to conflicts and their deaths by shooting and poisoning these animals.
A male borneon pygmy elephant was shot after it destroyed the villagers' crops
Elephants and grandchildren never forget.
How can humans help?
Elephant corridors are linear tracts of natural habitat that allow elephants to roam freely between two or more areas of mutually beneficial habitat without interference from people.
The corridors can help preserve the existing population of pygmy elephants. The surviving pygmy elephant population would have more availability of food, shelter, and breeding opportunities as a result. Elephant corridors might lessen our impact on animals by connecting critically fragmented ecosystems while we establish new wild habitats.
You made it!