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Mourning in the zoo: Little elephant Otto dies of herpes virus!
Leipzig Zoo says goodbye to the elephants Rani and Savani after the tragic death of the young elephant Otto in Munich.
Mourning in the zoo: Little elephant Otto dies of herpes virus!
Sad news from the Hellabrunn Zoo in Munich: The four and a half year old bull elephant Otto died on June 16th as a result of a herpes infection. How BR24 reported that the illness began on Saturday with the first signs of exhaustion. Despite immediate medical measures, including the administration of his father's blood plasma, Otto's condition worsened dramatically.
Infections with elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus (EEHV-1), which is often fatal in young elephants, are a major problem in the zoo world. The veterinarians at Hellabrunn Zoo had to react hectically, but how Thuringia24 reported, even with the best efforts it was too late. Otto's death caused great sadness among the keepers and the entire elephant group, as the young bull was known to be particularly social.
Farewell to Otto and the future of the elephant herd
The rest of the elephant herd had the opportunity to say goodbye to Otto, which was an emotional affair for everyone involved. Rani and Savani, two elephants who have moved to Munich, said goodbye to Otto "as is usual with elephants," the zoo said in a statement. These two elephants previously lived at Leipzig Zoo and have now settled well into their new surroundings. The zoo is even hoping for offspring, like in the MDR soap “Elephant, Tiger & Co.” was mentioned.
Unfortunately, this sad episode is only a small part of the big problem that many zoos are currently facing. For several years there have been repeated reports of elephant cubs dying from this dangerous virus. In the last five years, four elephant cubs died of EEHV at the Hagenbeck Zoo in Hamburg, as the facility itself announced. The Hagenbeck Foundation is actively involved in research into the development of a vaccine and has provided significant funding to protect the weakest animals in the European zoo community. Dr. Westhoff, zoological director, emphasizes the urgency of this research, as the vaccine does not yet exist and the risk to young animals remains high.
A look at elephant research
The challenges posed by this virus are an issue that concerns zoos across Europe. Sales of Asian elephants are high, and the species poses one of the greatest threats. Statistics show that around 20% of Asian elephants born in zoos die as a result of an EEHV infection. To this point, the problem is so acute that many young elephants between the ages of two and nine have died of the disease in the wild alone.
The European zoo community is aware of the problem and there are numerous initiatives to combat the virus. The first vaccinations have already taken place at Rotterdam Zoo, which means there is a ray of hope on the horizon. The joint effort of the animal parks could ultimately be the key to turning the fate of the elephant young.
The elephant house at Hellabrunn Zoo reopened to visitors on June 17, and the team hopes the remaining elephants remain healthy. In the zoos these days, people are not only mourning, but also fighting for the future and protection of these majestic animals.