A 12-year-old female Asian elephant at Fukuoka Zoo died on September 10, just before its scheduled public debut in October. The elephant was one of four Asian elephants brought from Myanmar to the zoo in July, ranging in age from 3 to 22. The zoo had planned to reintroduce elephants after a seven-year absence following the death of “Hanako,” a beloved female elephant in 2017. The four new elephants were undergoing acclimation and training to prepare for their public introduction.
On September 5, the elephant began showing signs of distress, limping on its right hind leg. Zoo staff consulted veterinarians and administered painkillers. By the following day, the elephant was limping on both hind legs, prompting further medical examinations, including a PCR test for the elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus (EEHV). The virus, which can cause severe hemorrhagic disease in elephants, particularly in young ones, is often fatal.
The elephant’s condition deteriorated rapidly; its appetite decreased by September 9, and the PCR test confirmed a positive result for the herpesvirus. Despite three rounds of antiviral medication, the elephant succumbed to the disease at 11:05 a.m. on September 10.
Veterinarians from Myanmar, who were involved in the elephant’s transfer, mentioned that while the symptoms were consistent with the herpesvirus, the exact cause of death remains undetermined. An autopsy is planned to analyze the precise cause of death, and results will likely take several weeks.
The zoo expressed deep sorrow over the incident and affirmed its commitment to the welfare of the remaining elephants. They are also closely monitoring the other three elephants for any signs of illness, although no symptoms have been reported so far. The public debut of the elephants, originally set for the end of October, may be postponed depending on the health status of the remaining elephants.
This tragedy comes at a challenging time for Fukuoka Zoo, which had heavily invested in expanding its elephant enclosure and was anticipating a surge in visitors with the introduction of the new elephants. The zoo had been without elephants since “Hanako” passed away seven years ago, and the return of these majestic animals was eagerly awaited by the local community. Source: NHK
Photo from Fukuoka Zoo official Instagram
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