Third Elephant Infected with Deadly Virus at Dublin Zoo
DUBLIN: A third elephant at Dublin Zoo has been confirmed to be infected with the same virus that claimed the lives of two others in the past 10 days, zoo officials announced.
Asha, a 17-year-old Asian elephant and the mother of the recently deceased Sindha, has tested positive for elephant endotheliotropic herpes virus (EEHV). This follows the deaths of eight-year-old Avni and seven-year-old Sindha from the same virus.
The zoo authorities remain hopeful that Asha may survive the virus due to her age.
“As she is older, her body has had more time to develop antibodies to fight the infection, giving her a better chance of survival,” Dublin Zoo officials stated.
The veterinary team is working tirelessly to provide the best possible care for Asha and is closely monitoring her condition. “EEHV is a serious and unpredictable disease, but with early detection and proper treatment, we expect a good outcome,” the statement continued.
Currently, no other elephants at the zoo are showing signs of EEHV, although staff are closely monitoring their health.
The zoo’s keepers are heartbroken after the loss of two cherished elephants within a week. Former operations manager at Dublin Zoo, Mr. Creighton, described the deaths as a “huge blow” to elephant conservation worldwide. He expressed hope that while the virus is “very, very aggressive,” older elephants have more resistance.
“Asha’s immune system has had more time to develop. She is not showing any symptoms, and the team remains optimistic and hopeful, although the situation could change within 24 hours,” he said.
The entire herd of elephants is being closely monitored, especially Samia, the youngest at ten years old. All other elephants are currently healthy, according to zoo officials.
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