Wildlife charity appeals to Government after death of elephant at zoo

May 8th, 2009 • Related • Filed Under

A wildlife charity has called on the Government to improve the welfare of elephants in UK zoos following the death of a one-year-old calf at Whipsnade Zoo.

The Born Free Foundation said it was “deeply saddened” by the death of male Asian elephant calf, Donaldson, at the zoo in Dunstable on Saturday.

A post-mortem confirmed Donaldson died from elephant endotheliotropic herpes virus (EEHV), a generally fatal haemorrhagic disease.

It is now calling on Defra, the Government department responsible for animal welfare and zoos, to take the risks of EEHV seriously and implement effective measures to improve the welfare of elephants remaining in UK zoos. children-baby-elep_1378300c

A two-year-old female elephant also died from EEHV at the zoo in 2006 and The Born Free Foundation said it appears that elephants in captivity are most at risk from the virus.

Chris Draper, senior scientific researcher for the Born Free Foundation, said: “The zoo industry is currently engaged in a seemingly desperate search for cases of this virus in wild elephants, but the overwhelming evidence to date is that EEHV is a primarily a killer of captive elephants.

“Remember, this disease was first identified in zoos, and has continued to pose a significant risk to captive populations of elephants, and calves in particular, ever since.

“The stress of captivity and the frequent shuffling of elephants between zoos for the questionable purpose of largely unsuccessful breeding attempts have been suggested as factors increasing the risk of deaths from EEHV.”

The charity also highlighted a study from the University of Bristol into the welfare, housing and husbandry of elephants in UK zoos in 2008, which showed that there was a welfare concern for each and every elephant in the country, in the opinion of at least one of the research team.

Will Travers, chief executive of the Born Free Foundation said: “The jury is no longer out on keeping elephants in captivity – the time has come to rethink the whole approach, to end breeding and imports to the UK, to overhaul the conditions for the remaining elephants, and focus our energies on conservation in the wild.”

A Defra spokesperson said: “Elephants in zoos deserve the best care possible, and we work with animal welfare groups and the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums to ensure that they get it.

“The Government has asked the independent Zoos Forum to review the treatment of elephants and their needs for the future. We expect its recommendations later this year.”

A spokesperson for the Zoological Society of London, which runs Whipsnade Zoo, said: “Zookeepers noticed that Donaldson seemed off-colour during routine morning checks last Thursday. A follow-up investigation by vets indicated that Donaldson was showing early symptoms of elephant endotheliotropic herpes virus (EEHV).

“He was immediately given a dose of drugs to fight the infection, as well as antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs. Continued treatment was given day and night for the next 48 hours, including a transfusion of blood plasma from his mother, Azizah.

“Sadly, despite the magnificent efforts of vets and keepers, Donaldson died early on Saturday. A post-mortem examination carried out that day confirmed that he had EEHV as suspected. Zookeepers and veterinary staff are understandably devastated by his loss.”

The Born Free Foundation is an international wildlife charity, devoted to compassionate conservation and animal welfare. It believes wildlife belongs in the wild and works to phase out zoos.

For more information visit www.bornfree.org.uk