Second Baby Elephant Dies From Herpes Virus at Syracuse Zoo
After a fight for his life that lasted just over a week, a second elephant at the Rosamond Gifford Zoo has died.
The Syracuse zoo s 5-year-old elephant, Batu, died Friday morning after he contracted Elephant Endotheliotropic Herpes Virus. He tested positive for the virus the previous Thursday, and the zoo s elephant team and a veterinary team from Cornell University s College of Veterinary Medicine immediately got to work, beginning aggressive treatments of anti-viral and herpes medicines, as well as plasma infusions from his herd mate Romani.
Rosamond Gifford Zoo
In a press release, Zoo Director Ted Fox said that while the team, and members from other institutions within the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, worked tirelessly all week to save Batu, the viral load of EEHV in his blood grew by the day.
The Rosamond Gifford Zoo in Syracuse, NY announced Friday the death of a second elephant calf in days.
5-year-old Batu died due to Elephant Endotheliotropic Herpes Virus (EEHV) early Friday morning, said Rosamond Gifford Zoo Director Ted Fox. EEHV is caused by a strain of herpes virus that targets Asian elephants.
Batu’s little brother, Ajay, died from the virus on Tuesday.
Fox said the zoo’s elephant team and veterinary staff from Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine worked tirelessly all week trying to save Batu while the “viral load” of EEHV in his blood grew by the day.
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Second young elephant dies at Syracuse zoo. Batu, 5, died 3 days after brother Ajay
Updated Dec 11, 2020;
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Batu’s baby brother, Ajay, died Tuesday.
Both young elephants died of elephant endotheliotropic herpes virus, the biggest killer of young Asian elephants.
“Just an absolute devastating day for the community again, and for our parks team and our zoo team,’ McMahon said.
Batu, pronounced BAA-two, was 5 years old. His younger brother, baby Ajay, died on Tuesday about a month before his second birthday.
Batu was born in May 2015 to Mali, his mother, and Doc, his father. His name, which means “like his father” or “loyal,” was chosen by voters in an online contest. He was his parents’ first calf.