554 Briefly ASIA & OCEANIA
Bornean elephant categorized as Endangered on the IUCN Red List TheBornean elephant Elephasmaximus bor- neensis has been categorized as Endangered following its first assessmentas a distinct sub- species on the IUCN Red List, with an esti- mated 1,000 individuals remaining in the wild. The population has diminished over thepast 75 years, initially because of extensive logging of Borneo’s forests destroying the majority of the elephant’
shabitat.As the human population has rapidly expanded in Sabah, elephants are more frequently enter- ing human-dominated landscapes in search of food, where they may cause damage to crops and face retaliation. Further habitat loss from agriculture, timber plantations, mining and major infrastructure projects threatens the future of the subspecies, adding to poaching for ivory, accidental ingestion of agrochemicals andcollisions with vehicles. Source: IUCN (2024)
iucn.org/press- release/202406/bornean-elephant- endangered-iucn-red-list
Jail term for Malaysian ex-police officer trafficking pangolins Almost 6 years after he was caught for il- legal possession of 81 pangolins, a former police officer has been sentenced to one of the longest jail terms Malaysia has handed out for a crime involving the world’s most trafficked mammal. After being arrested in August 2018, he was sentenced in June 2024 to a total of 15 years and 9 months in jail on four charges including illegal pos- session of juvenile and female pangolins under the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010. However, he is expected to serve only 6.5 years in jail as the terms on the four separate changes will run simultaneously. The sen- tence is especially significant because no fineswere issued, making this a hard-hitting prison-only punishment. The case follows several arrests of other enforcement officers involved in pangolin smuggling who also work in the state of Kedah, which lies in the north of Peninsular Malaysia bor- dering Thailand and frequently witnesses wildlife smuggling attempts. The trial also spotlights the continued pressure on the Critically Endangered Sunda pangolin in the wild, with TRAFFIC data showing more than 80 incidents involving . 2,500 individuals seized in Malaysia during 2014–2023. Source: TRAFFIC (2024)
traffic.org/news/ long-jail-term-for-malaysian-ex-police- officer-caught-with-critically-endangered- pangolins
Frog saunas help frogs fight deadly fungal disease One of Australia’s most threatened amphi- bians can fight off the deadly disease chytri- diomycosis with the help of a naturally heated shelter, which researchers have dubbed a frog sauna. It has long been known that high temperatures limit fungal infections, and many frog species are par- ticularly susceptible to the disease in winter when it is difficult to raise their body tem- peratures. Researchers studied two groups of captive bell frogs Litoria aurea that were deliberately infected with chytridio- mycosis during winter. The first group was provided with bricks with holes in them inside an unshaded greenhouse shel- ter where temperatures reached highs of nearly 40 °C, whereas temperatures in the second group’s greenhouse reached only 35 °C. The number of fungal spores present on the frogs’ skin was 100 times lower in the warmer shelters. Chytrid fungus struggles to grow above 28 °C, and the higher tem- perature also seems to activate the frogs’ im- mune system. The researchers think the technique could also work for other species, providing they naturally seek out warmth. Importantly, these heat shelters can be readily and inexpensively deployed. Sources: Nature (2024)
doi.org/m5mz & New Scientist (2024)
newscientist.com/ article/2437179-winter-sauna-helps- endangered-frogs-fight-off-fungal-disease
Using artificial intelligence to save the Tasmanian devil Scientists at the University of Tasmania are using groundbreaking artificial intelligence (AI) technology to tackle the spread of Devil Facial Tumor 2 (DFT2), a transmis- sible cancer affecting Tasmanian devils. With potential applications extending be- yond Tasmanian devils to other species and diseases, the project could revolutionize wildlife disease management globally. It combines data from remote cameras and AI software to process thousands of images and identify diseased individuals. The use of AI saves time by eliminating the time lag caused when experts need to manually process camera-trap images. A key part of the project is involving local landowners and community members. By working with local councils, government and non-govern- ment organizations, the project aims to create a community-based monitoring net-
work.This newmethodology is set to become the standard approach to monitor devil populations and DFT infection dynamics across Tasmania. Source:
Phys.org (2024)
phys.org/news/ 2024-06-ai-tasmanian-devil.html
Landmark debt swap to protect Indonesia’s coral reefs The government of Indonesia has an- nounced a deal to redirect more than USD 35 million it owes to the USA into the con- servation of coral reefs. The so-called debt-for-nature swap will fund coral restor- ation in two key areas of the Pacific Ocean’s Coral Triangle. Debt-for-nature swaps aim to alleviate two problems for developing countries: heavy debt burdens and a lack of funding for conservation. Indonesia has participated in three earlier swaps, but this will be the first to focus on protecting coral reefs. Roughly 18%of the world’s coral reefs are found in Indonesia’s waters, where they provide food, livelihoods and storm protec- tion for coastal communities. The deal was made possible under the Tropical Forest and Coral Reef Restoration Act, which al- lows countries to reduce their debt to the USA in exchange for commitments to con- serve nature. Source: Conservation International (2024)
conservation.org/blog/us-indonesia-swap- debt-to-protect-coral-reefs
New hope for the Critically Endangered Siamese crocodile Sixty Siamese crocodiles, from five sepa- rate nests, have successfully hatched in Cambodia’s Cardamom National Park— the largest record of this species breeding in the wild this century and a boost for the survival prospects of this Critically Endangered reptile. Once widespread in the wetlands of Southeast Asia, the species has disappeared from 99% of its former range. In May 2024, local people discovered three nests in an area where captive-bred crocodiles have never been released before, suggesting this is a key natural habitat for the species and that long-term protection efforts are allowing wild populations to re- cover. The nests were reported to Fauna & Flora’s Cambodian conservation team and the local community wardens, who ensured they were protected around the clock. Days later, two more nests were found elsewhere in the Park. Source: Fauna & Flora (2024) fauna-flora. org/news/new-hope-for-critically- endangered-siamese-crocodile
All internet addresses were up to date at the time of writing. The Briefly section in this issue was written and compiled by Emma Sinnett, Julia Hochbach and Martin Fisher, with additional contributions from Jon Paul Rodriguez. Contributions fromauthoritative published sources (including websites) are always welcome. Please send contributions by e-mail to
oryx@fauna-flora.org.
Oryx, 2024, 58(5), 549–554 © The Author(s), 2025. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of Fauna & Flora International doi:10.1017/S0030605324001698
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