Is the Borneo Elephant From Java?

Posted by Dawn M. Smith Sep 1, 2008

The puzzle of the origin of the pygmy elephant found on Borneo seems to still be unraveling. In 2003, these pachyderms were declared a unique subspecies of the Asian elephant. In 2008, a paper has come out expressing the view that they are actually members of the same species as an elephant once found on Java that is considered extinct.

Putting a conservation spin on that information has resulted in some creative backtracking. The biologists who pushed for their recognition as a separate subspecies based their efforts to protect them on that information.

But some of the ancient specimens used to bolster their case have come into question. One was said to have come from a cave in an area of Borneo where there are no caves. Selling of elephant bones and tusks is centuries old, so relying on old bones not found by paleontologists in their original site is highly suspect.

The new party line is that, if the animals represent a successful translocation (from Java to Borneo), they should be conserved as studying their adaptation may help save other species where translocation to better habitat is a possible option.There is also the question of whether they were moved by humans or whether they came over on a land bridge between the islands that has since disappeared.

Whatever their origin the little elephants of Borneo are certainly genetically unique and their numbers are limited. Seems to me like that’s enough reason to protect them.