Survey Explores Threats to Borneo Elephant Habitat

ARSIP WWF INDONESIA

A Borneo elephant (Elephas maximus borneensis) walks through a forest in Kalimantan, the Indonesian territory on the island of Borneo. The elephant subspecies is only found in Indonesia in Tulin Onsoi district of Nunukan regency, North Kalimantan.

JAKARTA, KOMPAS —  A series of field surveys conducted since February 2018 have explored the existing threats against the survival of Borneo elephants (Elephas maximus borneensis), with the latest survey conducted on Monday.

One major threat is habitat loss and destruction. Results show that 16 percent of the natural habitat of Borneo elephants have been destroyed or damaged. The mammals’ habitat covered 93,800 hectares in 2007.

World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Indonesia’s food, commodities and green infrastructure officer, Antonius, believes that the main cause of damage to elephant habitat in Kalimantan is the conversion of forests into oil palm plantations. Despite these land conversions, the elephants’ migratory path has not changed.

As a result, the elephants inevitably damaged smallholder and corporate oil palm plantations. "Luckily, conflicts between humans and elephants in Kalimantan are rare. This is because some communities still believe that elephants must be respected, [and that] karma will visit people if they intrude on the elephants," he said.

The growth in elephant population and habitat damage could increase the potential for human-animal conflict. Policy support for regional spatial plans was thus necessary to ensure effective habitat management and to increase the carrying capacity of the environment.

Observations indicate that Borneo elephants are relatively safe, with no cases that could cause a decline in the elephant population. The last survey in 2012 estimated the elephant population at 30-80 individuals.

On Monday morning, WWF Indonesia’s Borneo elephant survey team traveled to Nunukan regency, North Kalimantan, thought to be the main habitat of the endangered animals. This is the sixth survey since the first survey, which was conducted in February 2018.

Four teams comprising 40 people were involved in the survey. They crossed rivers and migratory routes for a week to determine the Borneo elephant’s habitat and population.

"Hopefully, the results of this survey can provide updated data and information on the Borneo elephant’s territory and habitat, including forest habitats, their current population and threats against their habitat," said Agus Suyitno, the Kayan Landscape species specialist staff for WWF Indonesia’s elephant-human conflict mitigation program.

DOKUMENTASI WWF INDONESIA

Two members of a WWF Indonesia team measure the length of elephant footprints during a field survey on the population and habitat of the Borneo elephant. The survey, which is conducted to help conserve the endangered elephant, gathers data on footprint measurements, grazing grounds, elephant urine and feces, and scratches on tree trunks and branches that mark the animal’s migration route across the island of Borneo.

The cross-sectoral survey involved several different parties, including the Nunukan regency environment office, the East Kalimantan Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA), academics, the Indonesian Military, non-governmental organizations, an elephant conflict task force, and local residents. The private sector also supported the survey.

Agus said that the elephants living in the heart of Borneo possessed a unique chracteristic that was not seen in other species of elephant.

The Borneo elephant, which is also called the Borneo pygmy elephant, are smaller than most elephant species and stand at a maximum height of 2.5 meters. It also has wider earlobes, a long tail that touches the ground, and ivory tusks that are generally straighter than most elephant species.

Not extinct

Diversity conservation director Indra Exploitasia at the Environment and Forestry Ministry (KLHK) said that conservation efforts showed that the Borneo elephant were not extinct and Indonesia retained rich biological diversity.

Many efforts have been made since 2016 to primarily monitor the Borneo elephant population, in cooperation with a number of institutions such as the Forum for the Conservation of Indonesian Elephants (FKGI) and WWF Indonesia.

Indra expressed hope that the cross-sectoral cooperation could can be improved further, including increased involvement of the private sector. "Spatial development and use space does not yet take the elephant habitat into consideration. This could become a threat to the habitat and population of the Borneo elephant," he said.

Aside from North Kalimantan, Borneo pygmy elephants are also found in Sabah, Malaysia. The elephant population in Sabah is estimated at 1,500-2,000 individuals. WWF Indonesia forest governance coordinator Arman Anang said the Borneo elephant survey was part of the Strategy Conservation Action Plan for Kalimantan Elephants (SRAK-GK) 2018-2028.

"We have to make sure that the elephant’s habitat is maintained," he said. (TAN)