Baby elephant at National Zoo helps lead fight against deadly disease
Elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus is the leading cause of death in young Asian elephants. One baby elephant is at the center of an effort that could transform how the disease is managed in these gentle giants worldwide. Deema Zein reports.
Elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus (EEHV) is the primary cause of death in young Asian elephants, with approximately 60% of infected calves succumbing to the disease. At the National Zoo in Washington, D.C., a baby elephant named Linh Mai is playing a crucial role in finding a new way to combat EEHV. This disease, spread through trunk-to-trunk contact, can cause rapid decline in infected calves.
The zoo's animal care and veterinary teams are testing a novel approach by exposing Linh Mai to EEHV while she still has strong antibodies from her mother. This method aims to help her build lifelong immunity to the virus. The baby elephant, born in February, has already gained popularity among visitors and is a focal point for the zoo's conservation efforts.
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