The Rosamond Gifford Zoo in Syracuse, NY announced Friday the death of a second elephant calf in days.
5-year-old Batu died due to Elephant Endotheliotropic Herpes Virus (EEHV) early Friday morning, said Rosamond Gifford Zoo Director Ted Fox. EEHV is caused by a strain of herpes virus that targets Asian elephants.
Batu’s little brother, Ajay, died from the virus on Tuesday.
Fox said the zoo’s elephant team and veterinary staff from Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine worked tirelessly all week trying to save Batu while the “viral load” of EEHV in his blood grew by the day.
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Second young elephant dies at Syracuse zoo. Batu, 5, died 3 days after brother Ajay
Updated Dec 11, 2020;
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Batu’s baby brother, Ajay, died Tuesday.
Both young elephants died of elephant endotheliotropic herpes virus, the biggest killer of young Asian elephants.
“Just an absolute devastating day for the community again, and for our parks team and our zoo team,’ McMahon said.
Batu, pronounced BAA-two, was 5 years old. His younger brother, baby Ajay, died on Tuesday about a month before his second birthday.
Batu was born in May 2015 to Mali, his mother, and Doc, his father. His name, which means “like his father” or “loyal,” was chosen by voters in an online contest. He was his parents’ first calf.
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