How first Borneo Elephant skeleton is assembled
EARLIER this week, the first Borneo Pygmy Elephant skeleton in Sabah was unveiled at the Institute for Tropical Biology and Conservation (ITBC), Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS).
This particular elephant is called Tagas, named after the Tagas River where it was rescued from forest plantation at Tagas-Tagas, Beluran on January 10, 2011.
Tagas was then translocated to Lok Kawi Wildlife Park but died three months after that.
The excavation was carried out in late 2015, and at the request of ITBC, the then JICA-SDBEC project chief Kazunobu Suzuki made arrangements for Dr Sawamura Hiroshi, the Curator of Ashoro Museum of Paleontology, to lead the complicated task.
The first workshop to restore Tagas started in June 2016 with the identification of bones, study tours to zoo and museum and arrangement of materials and tools.
According to Hiroshi, Tagas’ bones were stored in a small room called C-house.
“Ends of bones were separated, that shows the animal was young. Thin parts of the skull were broken.
“Firstly, bones were arranged by body parts. After that, lost body parts investigation was done before gluing separated parts together at Tagas Lab in Bhouse,” said Hiroshi.
On the last day of the first workshop, the feature of the whole elephant body before standing appeared. After the first workshop, the Tagas project was carried by staff of Borneensis Gallery.
The second workshop to assemble Tagas was continued in Dec 2016.
At the start of the second workshop, the vertebral column was installed on the wooden props temporarily.
After that, rib bones were installed to make the trunk framework, then the making of lost bones continued.
The third workshop was held on March 2017. At the start of the workshop, the vertebral column was installed on the iron props.
After that, arms and legs were set up to main props. Tail bones were installed to the pelvic before the skull with lower jaw was set up on the independent prop.
The installation of the hyoid (tongue) bone apparatus behind the lower jaw followed and finally tusks were installed to the incisive bone.
UMS Vice Chancellor Prof. Datuk Dr. Mohd Harun Abdullah said the university was hoping the skeleton would attract the interest of students and public to visit the gallery of ITBC, Borneensis Gallery.
“At present, the Borneo elephant is found only on the island of Borneo, that is, in the Eastern and Central of Sabah, as well as the extreme North of Indonesian Kalimantan,” Harun said.
“The range of wild elephants in Sabah and Kalimantan seems to have expanded very little in the past 100 years despite access to suitable habitat elsewhere on Borneo.
“It was speculated that the distribution of wild elephants on Borneo may be limited by the occurrence of natural mineral sources.
“The population size of Bornean elephant is estimated to be 2,040 individuals in the five main elephant ranges in Sabah, namely Tabin, Lower Kinabatangan, North Kinabatangan, Central Sabah and Ulu Kalumpang,” he said.
Harun added that the presence of the elephant skeleton enhances the importance of the Borneensis Gallery.
“The realization of this project is expected to enhance the awareness and education on the importance of biodiversity conservation with particular reference to the largest land mammal on Borneo Island.
“I have no doubt that the addition of this exhibit will enhance the uniqueness of this collection centre,” added Harun.