Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
DUBLIN ZOO OFFICIALS are “heartbroken” after the death of an Asian elephant from Elephant Endotheliotropic Herpesvirus (EEHV).
The Asian elephant is the largest land mammal on the Asian continent and two have died from EEHV at Dublin Zoo in the past week.
EEHV can cause a highly fatal haemorrhagic disease when transmitted to young Asian elephants – it poses no risk to humans.
It often lies latent in elephants and can be triggered without warning, as the virus is carried asymptomatically by many
Zinda, who was seven years old, died from the disease at Dublin Zoo yesterday, while Avani died from the same disease last Monday, 1 July.
Dublin Zoo described the losses as “devastating” and said that both elephants died despite the best efforts of the zoo’s dedicated veterinary team and international experts.
In a statement yesterday, Dublin Zoo said an “unprecedented effort” was made to save Zinda.
This included the Irish and UK governments facilitating the urgent importation of vital blood products and other essential supplies from Chester Zoo to provide the antibodies and help fight the infection.
“We fervently hoped this would have helped save Zinda’s life,” said Dublin Zoo.
“We are profoundly grateful to Chester Zoo for their unwavering support during this critical time.
“A special thank you also goes to An Garda Síochána, who escorted the blood products from Dublin Port to the zoo.”
Currently, no other elephants in Dublin Zoo’s herd are showing signs of EEHV, but staff are closely monitoring their health and the EEHV response plan remains in place to protect the remaining members of the herd.
Dublin Zoo said it will continue to take all necessary measures to protect its elephant herd, particularly its younger members under the age of 10, as older elephants are not as vulnerable to illness from the EEHV virus.
“The quick progression of the virus in Zinda underscores the challenges of managing this disease, even with the highest standards of care and vigilance,” said Dublin Zoo.
Dublin Zoo also noted that global efforts are ongoing to develop an EEHV vaccine and to “find a solution to safeguard the future of the elephant population”.
Meanwhile, in the case of Avani who died on Monday and was eight years old, Dublin Zoo said she was receiving ongoing treatment but the virus progressed quickly.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
So sorry for all that give so much Love and Care to these beautiful Elephants
Shouldn’t be caged up in the first place.
@reg morrisey: They are not caged. They have 35 acres to roam. And as Asian Elephants are endangered in the wild, how would you propose carrying out breeding programmes?
@Sean O’Dhubhghaill: more like 2 acres. But still
@Big Beats: Two hectares: ~5 acres.
@Sean O’Dhubhghaill: 35? Are you ok sweetie?
@reg morrisey: They aren’t caged you uneducated turd.
@Sean O’Dhubhghaill: they are practically caged. 35acres is absolutely nothing when they normally roam up to 80km per day. They should be in large sanctuary that caters for their needs not trapped their entire lifes in a very small 35acre plot of land with little to no new mental or physical stimulation
@reg morrisey: Be quiet ya amadán. This isn’t the victorian era. Without animals in captivity, many species would be eliminated in the Wild entirely…
@Leinsterprincess: That’s the size of the African Plains area of Dublin Zoo.
@Brendan O’Brien: yeah ok but its not 35 acres
@Sean O’Dhubhghaill: I don’t think the elephants are there, though (they’re Asian elephants).
@Big Beats: Obviously.
@Big Beats: The zoo’s elephant exhibit, which is reported to have cost $25 million, is only 2ha (5 acres) in size, just a fraction of the 100ha minimum enclosure size that was identified in the 2022 report, ‘Expansive, diverse habitats are vital for the welfare of elephants in captivity.20 Dec 2023
@Sea Point:a report done a few years ago showed that only 6% of animals in Dublin zoo were on any kind of endangered or vulnerable list. The rest were simply there to use to make money from. Most zoos are the same. Over 90% of the animals there are in abundance in the wild and serve no conservational or educational benefits to being there. Not to mention a lot of zoos kill some of their animals that are surpluse to requirements every year, which was highlighted with the public killing of the healthy giraffe Marius a few years ago.
@Sean O’Dhubhghaill: yeah cop on ffs
Elephant Endotheliotropic Herpesvirus is a devestating disease. Chester Zoo lost 5 elephants to it in 6 years. It is so upsetting for the herd, as it has been proven that elephants mourn losses…so to lose 2 so close together is just horrible :(
Very sad,I hope the rest are OK.
Why do elephants have big ears?
Because Noddy wouldn’t pay the ransom.
So they get in a new elephant, tusked, and two of the resident ones die??
@Athena: E for effort : must try harder…..
@Mike Finnegan: I was wondering whether there were proper sanitation, isolation and quarantine procedures in place. If you introduce a new animal to your herd, flock, pack, regardless the veterinary papers and certs it comes with, you put it in isolation for at least six weeks to be on the safe side and take every caution with staff attending the animal as if it were infected.
Can’t help wondering about the timeline as there are no coincidences.
Need a mask mandate for the elephants
Is there an elephant version of gamma globulin or Interferon?
Oblivious Elephant in the room.
have your say