Nenga gajah

The major threat to this species is extensive habitat loss across its range. Its lowland forest habitat is in areas under pressure from settlement, crop plantations and logging. In 1974, Dransfield noted that protected areas in Sumatra, where this species resides, were being felled illegally for planting coffee (cited in Lucas and Synge 1978). In a recent report by UNEP (2007) it is estimated that natural rainforests of Sumatra and Borneo are being cleared so rapidly that up to 98% may be destroyed by 2022 without urgent action. Illegal logging accounts for tens of millions of cubic metres annually and 73% of that is logging in Indonesia.. In Sabah, the conversion of forest to oil palm plantations can be considered one of the biggest threats to the remaining forests. Most land areas suitable for oil palm plantations in Sabah, outside forest reserves, have already been converted to plantations (Rautner 2005).

This species is present in Bukit Tigapuluh National Park in Sumatra, Crocker Range National Park and Danum Valley Conservation area in Sabah. Previous assessments have rated this species as 'Rare' (Lucas and Synge 1978) and 'Endangered' (Walter and Gillett 1997). Specimens of this species are cultivated in Bogor Botanic Garden, Indonesia and Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, UK.