Bornean elephants not pygmies, expert clarifies

Nurzhafarina Othman
KINABATANGAN (June 22): The idea that Bornean elephants are related to the ancient pygmy elephants is a misconception, says elephant conservationist Dr Nurzhafarina Othman, who clarifies that no such pygmy species ever existed in Sabah. 'The term 'pygmy' was popularised through a scientific publication in 2003, likely to attract public interest. However, it needs to be corrected to prevent confusion,' she told Bernama. Dr Nurzhafarina, a Senior Lecturer at Universiti Malaysia Sabah's Institute for Tropical Biology and Conservation, explained that the Bornean elephants are indeed smaller than other Asian elephant subspecies, but noted that calling them pygmy elephants is inaccurate.
'True pygmy elephants were much smaller, about waist-high to humans and are long extinct,' she said.
She urged the public and media to stop using the term 'pygmy' when referring to Bornean elephants, stressing that this misnomer overshadows their unique status as a distinct subspecies. 'The Bornean elephant, classified as Elephas maximus borneensis, is a special treasure unique to Sabah. Mislabeling them risks undermining their conservation,' Dr Nurzhafarina added.
Currently, the species is listed as endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, with an estimated 250 individuals remaining in the Kinabatangan area.
Dr Nurzhafarina noted that ongoing research into the elephants' genetics, behaviour and habitat needs is critical for their protection. 'Understanding these elephants on their own terms and not through the lens of outdated myths , is key to effective conservation efforts,' she said.
The conservationist also highlighted efforts to address human-elephant conflicts through habitat restoration and experimental food corridors but emphasized that education and accurate information are just as important to securing the elephants' future.
'The story of the Bornean elephant should be one of pride and preservation, free from confusion and misrepresentation,' she concluded. -Bernama

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Borneo Post

9 hours ago

• Borneo Post

Bornean elephants not pygmies, expert clarifies

Nurzhafarina Othman KINABATANGAN (June 22): The idea that Bornean elephants are related to the ancient pygmy elephants is a misconception, says elephant conservationist Dr Nurzhafarina Othman, who clarifies that no such pygmy species ever existed in Sabah. 'The term 'pygmy' was popularised through a scientific publication in 2003, likely to attract public interest. However, it needs to be corrected to prevent confusion,' she told Bernama. Dr Nurzhafarina, a Senior Lecturer at Universiti Malaysia Sabah's Institute for Tropical Biology and Conservation, explained that the Bornean elephants are indeed smaller than other Asian elephant subspecies, but noted that calling them pygmy elephants is inaccurate. 'True pygmy elephants were much smaller, about waist-high to humans and are long extinct,' she said. She urged the public and media to stop using the term 'pygmy' when referring to Bornean elephants, stressing that this misnomer overshadows their unique status as a distinct subspecies. 'The Bornean elephant, classified as Elephas maximus borneensis, is a special treasure unique to Sabah. Mislabeling them risks undermining their conservation,' Dr Nurzhafarina added. Currently, the species is listed as endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, with an estimated 250 individuals remaining in the Kinabatangan area. Dr Nurzhafarina noted that ongoing research into the elephants' genetics, behaviour and habitat needs is critical for their protection. 'Understanding these elephants on their own terms and not through the lens of outdated myths , is key to effective conservation efforts,' she said. The conservationist also highlighted efforts to address human-elephant conflicts through habitat restoration and experimental food corridors but emphasized that education and accurate information are just as important to securing the elephants' future. 'The story of the Bornean elephant should be one of pride and preservation, free from confusion and misrepresentation,' she concluded. -Bernama

Barnama

11 hours ago

• Barnama

Japanese Startup Test Kit Shows Promise In Early Cancer Detection

TOKYO, June 22 (Bernama-Kyodo) -- A urine-based cancer risk screening kit developed by a Japanese startup is showing promise in detecting cancer at the earliest stage using non-invasive means, Kyodo News Agency reported. The test kit from Craif Inc., a spin-off from Nagoya University founded in 2018, can also be used to assess simultaneously whether a person is at risk from any of up to seven types of cancer. The product, which does not require a blood test, was able to detect changes in pre-malignant cells among residents of Hokkaido towns in northern Japan to whom the company distributed 100 sets of the "miSignal" test kit free of charge in the year through March 2025. bootstrap slideshow "We were able to detect and treat cancer that was difficult to find by X-ray," said Tatsuya Kato, a professor at the Hokkaido University Hospital, adding the kits would be vital in places such as Hokkaido, where medical resources are sparse. The kit can be used to detect microRNA, a biomarker known for its link to early cancer biology, in a small amount of urine and help screen the risks of cancer in the lungs, colon and pancreas, among others. Results of the survey using the test kits were announced at an annual meeting of the Japanese Association for Chest Surgery in May. Among those aged 60 or older who had not taken a lung cancer test for five years or more, a tumour was detected in the lungs of a woman in her 60s that led to a detailed examination and successful surgery. The tumour was diagnosed as a "Stage 0" adenocarcinoma in situ. Precancerous cells in the colon and pancreas were also detected among six people in the survey, according to the company. In Japan, it is estimated that one in two people would develop cancer in their lifetime, while one in four men and one in six women will die from the disease, according to statistics of the National Cancer Centre Japan.

New Straits Times

13 hours ago

• New Straits Times

Bornean elephants are not pygmies

KINABATANGAN: The idea that Bornean elephants are related to the ancient pygmy elephants is a misconception, says elephant conservationist Dr Nurzhafarina Othman, who clarifies that no such pygmy species ever existed in Sabah. "The term 'pygmy' was popularised through a scientific publication in 2003, likely to attract public interest. However, it needs to be corrected to prevent confusion," she told Bernama. Dr Nurzhafarina, a Senior Lecturer at Universiti Malaysia Sabah's Institute for Tropical Biology and Conservation, explained that the Bornean elephants are indeed smaller than other Asian elephant subspecies, but noted that calling them pygmy elephants is inaccurate. "True pygmy elephants were much smaller, about waist-high to humans and are long extinct," she said. She urged the public and media to stop using the term 'pygmy' when referring to Bornean elephants, stressing that this misnomer overshadows their unique status as a distinct subspecies. "The Bornean elephant, classified as Elephas maximus borneensis, is a special treasure unique to Sabah. Mislabeling them risks undermining their conservation," Dr Nurzhafarina added. Currently, the species is listed as endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, with an estimated 250 individuals remaining in the Kinabatangan area. Dr Nurzhafarina noted that ongoing research into the elephants' genetics, behaviour and habitat needs is critical for their protection. "Understanding these elephants on their own terms and not through the lens of outdated myths , is key to effective conservation efforts," she said. The conservationist also highlighted efforts to address human-elephant conflicts through habitat restoration and experimental food corridors but emphasised that education and accurate information are just as important to securing the elephants' future." The story of the Bornean elephant should be one of pride and preservation, free from confusion and misrepresentation," she concluded.– BERNAMA