Pygmy Elephants

   Endangered Borneo pygmy elephants were found dead.  Fourteen were found dead all in the same area.  In past instances, human contact has usually gone along with it.  In some areas where these elephants have caused issues with humans, poisonous fruit as been left for the elephants to eat.  Until autopsies can be done on all animals there are a number of guesses as to why the animals died.  Once autopsies are completed then more will be done.  These elephants have a limited area of natural habitat and with logging and forests being cleared for plantations their area for life is shrinking.  As land is taken for commercial use, elephants come back looking for resources and this in when humans interfere.  With a total population of about 1,500 animals, this endangered species needs to be protected by more laws.  Also, the forests in which these animals live needs to be protected.  Scientists have tried to get the Malaysian government to list this elephants as a totally protected species but no actions by Malaysia have been taken yet. 

  These elephants are already on the endangered species list which seems to mean about nothing when it comes down to human interference.  When people destroy forests for their personal gain they are killing all the wildlife that lives there, including these elephants.  Laws of some kind need to be put in place to protect the land that these elephants live in.  After the autopsy results are brought forward, if humans are the cause, then some kind of investigation needs to be done immediately.  Killing an endangered species should not just go as a "slap on the wrist".  Being "Totally Protected" would be the next best step to take to save what little number of pygmy elephants are left.  This would mean that the elephants and their habitat remain undisturbed.  And with this recent event, maybe the government will begin to look at the elephants as more fragile than they were believed to be.

Russell Remy
1/31/13
11:31 pm

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2013/01/130131-borneo-pygmy-elephants-killings-animals-conservation-science/