The Rosamond Gifford Zoo is mourning the sudden death of its youngest elephant calf to a lethal strain of herpes that targets Asian elephants. The calf named Ajay (ah-JYE) would have turned two in January. Staff were treating his older brother Batu after a blood sample tested positive for Elephant Endotheliotropic Herpes Virus, or EEHV, but he had no symptoms. At the same time they monitored Ajay, who didn’t show any symptoms until within a few hours of his death.
The virus is believed to be naturally occurring in a latent form that can become active without warning. It's the biggest killer of young Asian elephants, and can cause death in under 24 hours. Zoo Director Ted Fox says in a release that Monday night, Ajay was playful and happy as usual. But by Tuesday morning, there was swelling around his eyes and seemed tired.
“Within two hours, despite the tireless efforts of the zoo and Cornell veterinary staff, he was gone. That is how awful this disease is, especially with young elephants. When it hits, it hits hard.”
Fox says the entire herd was given time to spend with Ajay after his death, as elephant families do in the wild. Staff are also shocked, but are focused on taking care of Batu. He's 5, and still at risk because blood tests show the level of the virus growing exponentially.
“Every institution that works with elephants knows this is a risk,” Fox said.
The zoo previously lost a female elephant calf, Preya, to EEHV at age 3 in 2003.
Ajay was known as the most precocious baby elephant the zoo had ever experienced. Officials say he surpassed his older brother at every milestone, and could often be seen running up to Batu to wrestle or take a dunk in the elephant pool.
Fox says Ajay has been taken to Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine and his death will contribute to study of EEHV, which also affects Asian elephants in the wild. He says the loss of Ajay will make a difficult year even harder for the zoo and the many people who love and support its elephants.
