A deadly virus has swept through Zurich’s zoo, killing three Asian elephants in a month and leaving experts stumped as to how to stop its spread, AFP reports.
The zoo overlooking Switzerland’s largest city now has only five of the majestic creatures roaming its 11,000-square-metre (118,400-square-foot) elephant enclosure.
Two-year-old bull Umesh was the first to fall victim to the Elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus (EEHV) at the end of June, followed just days later by his eight-year-old sister Omysha.
Last Saturday, Ruwani, a five-year-old female from a second matriarchal herd also died.
They succumbed at lightning speed to the herpes virus, which leaves young Asian elephants with internal bleeding and organ failure.
In captivity, this virus is “the main cause of death for elephants between two and eight years”, zoo curator Pascal Marty told AFP.
The virus has also been known to kill elephants in the wild, he said, but “it’s a bit harder to detect.”
The herpes virus lies latent in nearly all elephants, both in the wild and in captivity, but can in some cases suddenly become deadly, killing its victims in a matter of days.
“We still don’t know why it happens and when it happens,” Marty said.
The zoo’s five remaining Asian elephants — all adults — were permitted to spend a few hours gathered around the remains of their young family members and companions.
Written by Adekunle Biodun