Issue: You're assuming that your definition of "handful" is the same as that of the Pikalites.
Given their population figures it's possible their "handful" slang term is actually equivalent to a hundred or more Pikalites.
Even if "handful" means a literal handful of Pikalites, it's still probably more than 5, especially since they're talking to a Medium-sized creature and are probably Small or Tiny-sized creatures themselves.