Virus kills another Whipsnade Zoo baby elephant

May 22nd, 2009 • Related • Filed Under

By Anne O’Donoghue – Dunstable Today

Staff mourn little Leelee

Leelee, a two-year-old female Asian elephant, has been struck down by the same deadly virus which killed Donaldson, a one-year-old male calf.

She began showing signs of elephant endotheliotropic herpes virus (EEHV) on Friday, May 15, and immediately began undergoing treatment.

The little jumbo was also given a blood plasma transfusion, but sadly died on Sunday, May 17. Vets battled for 50 hours in vain to try to save her.

Tragic: Little Leelee

Zoological director David Field said: “Leelee battled this virus with all the bravery and dignity you come to expect from one of these magnificent animals.

“Losing an animal is always terrible, but we have worked so hard to establish a strong breeding group that this setback is a real blow to everyone.

“The keepers and vets worked tirelessly in their efforts to save her and could not have done more.”

Since the virus was first identified in 1995, there have been more than 50 cases in American and European zoos and it has also affected wild elephants.

Mr Field said: “ZSL (the Zoological Society of London) already puts significant time and resources into researching this virus through collaborative work with other zoos and veterinary institutions worldwide.

“We are as determined as ever to find a cure or vaccine for this virus.”

There Are 2 Responses So Far. »

Comment by bigfanx on 12 June 2009:

I’m really saddened by the deaths of Whipsnade’s baby elephants. First it was Donaldson, now Leelee. Will Euan be next? Will Kaylee’s new calf be affected… and when?

What is so disappointing and even sadder is that the zoo’s breeding program would rush to impregnate Kaylee so soon after the birth of Leelee. Waiting only a few months… from January to September… the decision to allow Kaylee to become pregnant again was met with success! She’s due to deliver in July 09.

Is this zoo so selfish, so bent on replacing the lost babies, that they’d endanger the life of the mother? I don’t think it’s wise to have pregnancies so close together. The mother’s body needs time to recovery from the long pregnancy .. and her body is attuned to nourishing the calf standing on the ground next to her. An immediate pregnancy starts the cycle of nourshing a new life inside her body.. now her body has two demands at the same time… something may not develop as planned.

Why was Kaylee impregnated so soon? What’s the rush?

Emmet is the sire of Kaylee’s calf and Noorjahan at Twycross Zoo is expecting in Aug 09. Could be Emmet is the carrier of EEHV?

– Midwest USA –
– bigfanx –
Comment by Mowgli on 16 June 2009:

EEHV has been prevalent in zoo’s since the 1980’s and first descibed in 1995.In this time many deaths have resulted because of the virus with very few calves surviving.No definitive treatment has been determined to date or vaccine.Until this is done then more deaths will transpire.Elephants cannot not be bred on the premise they might contract EEHV.This would be the same for foot and mouth in cattle and sheep.In captivity female elephants can start their oestrus cycle very soon after birth and this could be due to the plentiful conditions that are provided.Zoo’s in Europe donot have the option of obtaining animals from their native countries so breeding is the only way to ensure that there will be in zoo’s in the future.There is no research supporting that breeding elephants causes problems to the dams.To date very few calves have lived to reproduce themselves so maybe that is something that needs to be corrected rather than stop breeding.Until definitive testing can occur it will remain unknown as to who carries EEHV and this is only one part of managing the virus.As someone who has seen what it does to the calves,mothers,herd and keepers I wouldn’t support no breeding of elephants.