Baby Elephant ‘Abhi’ Dies of Herpes Virus Infection in Nandankanan

Bhubaneswar: A baby elephant named Abhi, who was undergoing treatment for Elephant Endotheliotropic Herpesvirus (EEHV) passed away at Nandankanan Zological Park in Bhubaneswar Thursday afternoon. The deceased animal was 17 months old.

According to reports, before its death, the baby elephant showed up erratic behavior and short of breath. Treatning veterinarians administered oxygen and life saving drugs to it. But the baby elephant could not be saved.

When Abhi health condition deteriorated from September 21, its blood sample was sent to the Centre for Wildlife Health for analysis. The tests confirmed that it was suffering EEHV infection.

Abhi was kept in the elephant health care centre along with two other elephants, Lisa and Asha, who were infected with the virus in August. Both have meanwhile recovered.

On June 25, 2023, Abhi was rescued from a forest near Ghatagaon of Keonjhar, while it was wandering alone in the forest.

As the elephant herd did not accept back the baby elephant, it was rehabilitated by the forest department at the Nandankanan Zoo. A team of veterinarians are monitoring the condition of the baby elephant.