Werribee Zoo tries first Australian vaccine for deadly elephant virus
Three Werribee Zoo elephants joined the first Australian vaccine trial. The vaccine targets a virus that kills calves in just 24 hours.
Elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus (EEHV) has killed more than 90 young elephants in zoos over 25 years. The virus has killed an estimated 100 to 150 wild calves.
The virus can progress so fast that massive internal bleeding leads to death within just a day. Werribee Zoo lost an Asian elephant named Man Jai to EEHV about three years ago.
A vaccine developed by researchers at Utrecht University trains an elephant's immune system to recognize the virus. Researchers tested it on older elephants in Dutch zoos.
But this is the first trial to see if it protects young calves. Three young elephants from Werribee are Australia's first to participate.
They join 11 calves already vaccinated across Europe. The zoo trains its elephants like dogs using treats and whistles.
This helps them cooperate with weekly tests. The tests detect the virus early.
- More than 90 young elephants over 25 years
- Deaths in zoos
- Estimated 100 to 150
- Wild calf deaths
Why it mattersIf the vaccine works, it could save young elephants in zoos worldwide. It could also protect wild populations from this major killer.
AustraliaWerribee Zoo's participation means Australian zoos gain access to the protection and Australian research contributes to saving a species facing extinction.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 2 h ago
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