The Borneo pygmy elephant is the smallest – and most genetically distinct – subspecies of Asian elephant on earth. Found only on the island of Borneo, and almost entirely within the Malaysian state of Sabah, it’s one of the rarest elephants in the world. Roughly 1,000 to 1,500 of them are left in the wild.
Borneo pygmy elephants (Elephas maximus borneensis) are a subspecies of the Asian elephant found only on the island of Borneo, mostly in the Malaysian state of Sabah. They stand around 2.5 metres (8 feet) tall at the shoulder – roughly 30 to 60 cm shorter than mainland Asian elephants – with rounder faces, larger ears, longer tails, and straighter tusks. Only 1,000 to 1,500 remain in the wild, mostly along the Kinabatangan River and in Tabin, Deramakot, and Danum Valley forest reserves. They’re classified as Endangered by the IUCN and are threatened primarily by palm-oil-driven deforestation.
This guide covers what makes Borneo pygmy elephants a distinct subspecies, how big they actually are, where to see them in Borneo, the palm-oil conflict threatening their habitat, and what responsible tourism for this species looks like.