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Borneo Pygmy elephants or elephant Java Pygmies, as the name implies it has a smaller size compared to other subspecies of the Asian elephant and the African elephant. Besides being known as the Borneo Pygmy Elephant and Elephant Pygmies Java is often also referred to as Elephant Kalimantan or Borneo Pygmy Elephant.

In English known as the Borneo Pygmy Elephant Elephant or Borneo. While there is a scientific name called as Elephas maximus Elephas maximus borneensis or sometimes sondaicus.

But the existence of Borneo elephant is still being debated. Although both subspecies believed as Asian elephants (Elephas maximus), the majority found that the Borneo pygmy elephant is the animal while others believed the introduction of a separate subspecies native and endemic to Borneo.

Physical description and behavior. Borneo elephants are smaller than African elephants or other subspecies of Asian elephant. Bull elephant has a height between 1.7 and 2.6 m, while the female elephants have a height between 1.5 to 2.5 m. Smaller than the Asian elephant as high as 3 m. Borneo Pygmy elephant (Elephas maximus borneensis) gray-skinned black.

Another difference is larger ears, longer tails that almost reach the ground and fatter. In addition, the Borneo elephant (Elephas maximus borneensis) are also less aggressive than other subspecies of Asian elephant. Pattern and type of food is almost like the elephant elephant of Asia.

Borneo Pygmy elephants live scattered in Malaysia (Sabah) and Indonesia (Kalimantan). In Indonesia's Borneo elephants live in Nunukan, East Kalimantan, on the border with Sabah. The main habitats include the Borneo elephant Dipterocarpa Lowland Forest, Forest Hills Dipterocarpa, Edge-River Forest, Oak Forest and Swamp Forest Mountain Low.

Population is not known with certainty. In 2007 the estimated population of between 500-2000 tails. But for that inhabit the territory of Indonesia (in Nunukan), based on a survey of WWF, there are only 30-80 diperkirahan tail only.

Controversy origin. Most of the Borneo Pygmy Elephant found not native to Borneo but subspecies of animals including the introduction and Sumatran elephants. In 1750 the British East India Trading Company presented the animals to the Sultan of Sulu (Philippines). Sultan of Sulu and then keep it in northern Borneo who was mastered. Years later wilder animal life back. Therefore, according to this party, is Borneo Sumatran elephants Elephant.

Assume that the other party is a Borneo elephant Asian elephant who has been inhabited since the Pleistocene Borneo which was then fused with Asia. When the sea level rise which then separates the island of Borneo to the mainland of Asia, elephants are then trapped in Borneo. The Elephant later evolved to become the fourth Asian elephant subspecies beside Sumatran elephants (Elephas maximus sumatranus), Indian Elephant (Elephas maximus indicus), and the Sri Lankan Elephant (Elephas maximus maximus).

In 2003, researchers from WWF and Columbia University through the study of mitochondrial DNA, concluded that Borneo Pygmy elephants are genetically distinct subspsesies have a separate sub-species including the Asian elephant and Sumatran elephants evolved since 300,000 years ago. During that period, they became smaller with relatively larger ears, longer tail and straighter tusks.

Protect Borneo Pygmy Elephants. So-so the experts disagree, because it's their job. And the inhabitants of Borneo's elephants are truly native and endemic to Borneo Sumatran elephants or just being introduced by the Sultan of Sulu, let the taxonomist to determine.

Is including protected animals?, Obviously. In Appendix PP. 9 of 1999, the elephant as one among protected wildlife in Indonesia. IUCN Redlist also include Asian Elephant Endangered status as animals, even the special status of Critically Endangered Sumatran elephants. CITES Appendix also register Elephants Asia as Appendix I.

To be sure, this is real elephants inhabit the island of Borneo. And now their existence is threatened by forest conversion. Of the overall population between 500-2000 tail, only 30-80 tails are inhabiting forests of East Kalimantan. Do not get in the future, dwarf elephants Kalimantan Indonesia because it left the ground feeling more comfortable 'stateless' and live in Malaysia than Nunukan (Indonesia).

Scientific Classification: Kingdom: Animalia. Phylum: Chordata. Class: Mammalia. Order: Proboscidae. Family: Elephantidae. Genus: Elephas. Species: Elephas maximus. Sub Species: Elephas maximus borneensis.



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