The Bornean elephant, a subspecies of the Asian elephant with an estimated population of one thousand individuals in the wild, is at risk of extinction due to human activities in its habitat. The latest edition of the Red List of Threatened Species, published by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), includes the Bornean elephant in the category of “endangered” species. The population of these elephants has been declining for the past 75 years, primarily due to deforestation and habitat loss caused by human actions in Borneo.
Human populations have grown in places like Sabah in Malaysia, leading to conflicts between elephants and humans as they come into contact with each other while searching for food. Elephants may be killed in retaliation for damaging crops, which further contributes to their decline in population. The expansion of agricultural activities like palm oil plantations and road construction has also reduced their habitat. Illegal ivory trade, ingestion of agrochemicals, and collisions with vehicles are also factors that are affecting their survival rates negatively.
The Bornean elephant is the smallest subspecies of elephants, and genetic studies suggest that they separated from other elephant species about 300,000 years ago. It is one of many mammals worldwide that are at risk of extinction due to various threats such as climate change, illegal trade, and invasive species. Other species like the wild camel, European mink, gorillas, Javan rhinoceros, and Sumatran orangutan are among those at greatest risk of disappearing entirely.
Despite these challenges faced by biodiversity on Earth’s planetary ecosystems remain vital to our own existence; this is why IUCN believes that with sustained efforts from all stakeholders involved- including governments, communities and organizations- it’s possible to prevent species from disappearing entirely. Costa Rican Grethel Aguilar emphasizes this point by stressing the importance
