Asian Elephants in Europe 2021

This morning, the three-year-old elephant Thabo was put to sleep in Dierenpark Amersfoort after he was diagnosed with the herpes virus (EEHV). The elephant bull could no longer recover from this very dangerous virus.

Yesterday, Thabo's condition deteriorated rapidly and a blood test revealed that the elephant was carrying the herpes virus. The zookeepers, vet and other specialists have done everything to save Thabo. After it turned out that Thabo would die, the park put him to sleep with an eye on animal welfare. The elephants have been able to say goodbye to Thabo.
 
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MennoPebesma said:
This morning, the three-year-old elephant Thabo was put to sleep in Dierenpark Amersfoort after he was diagnosed with the herpes virus (EEHV). The elephant bull could no longer recover from this very dangerous virus.

Yesterday, Thabo's condition deteriorated rapidly and a blood test revealed that the elephant was carrying the herpes virus. The zookeepers, vet and other specialists have done everything to save Thabo. After it turned out that Thabo would die, the park put him to sleep with an eye on animal welfare. The elephants have been able to say goodbye to Thabo.
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@MennoPebesma Why did Dierenpark Armersfoort not use the technique that Chester Zoo used to help pull Indali through? Surely Armersfoort could have not euthanised Thabo and persevered with treatment as Chester did with miraculous and highly successful results. Armersfoort would definitely be Awere of Chester’s treatment plan as they shared it with the entire European captive Asian Elephant population.
 
The Hedgehog said:
@MennoPebesma Why did Dierenpark Armersfoort not use the technique that Chester Zoo used to help pull Indali through? Surely Armersfoort could have not euthanised Thabo and persevered with treatment as Chester did with miraculous and highly successful results. Armersfoort would definitely be Awere of Chester’s treatment plan as they shared it with the entire European captive Asian Elephant population.
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There are more factors than just the treatment. It is definitely possible the keepers didn’t notice soon enough for any treatment to be successful. Indali may have reacted differently to treatment than Thabo did. I could be wrong, but I believe there are different EEHV strands and that could have been a problem. It is an unfortunate circumstance, I’m sure the keepers at Dierenpark Armersfoort did everything that they could and I feel for them at this time.
 
The Hedgehog said:
@MennoPebesma Why did Dierenpark Armersfoort not use the technique that Chester Zoo used to help pull Indali through? Surely Armersfoort could have not euthanised Thabo and persevered with treatment as Chester did with miraculous and highly successful results. Armersfoort would definitely be Awere of Chester’s treatment plan as they shared it with the entire European captive Asian Elephant population.
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Chester has not had "high successful" results regarding herpes virus treatment. They've had 1 calf out of 8 actually survive the virus with treatment.

From what I can gather, it sounds like Thabo suffered from a very acute and severe herpes flare up, and it's absolutely terrible it took down this wonderful little bull :( He was not only his genetically valuable fathers only male offspring, but he was also a fourth generation captive bred animal, so a rather special animal overall. Fingers crossed this is the last in the line of grief for Amersfoort, and their current calf Yindee will never have to deal with this scourge.
 
Hyak_II said:
Chester has not had "high successful" results regarding herpes virus treatment. They've had 1 calf out of 8 actually survive the virus with treatment.

From what I can gather, it sounds like Thabo suffered from a very acute and severe herpes flare up, and it's absolutely terrible it took down this wonderful little bull :( He was not only his genetically valuable fathers only male offspring, but he was also a fourth generation captive bred animal, so a rather special animal overall. Fingers crossed this is the last in the line of grief for Amersfoort, and their current calf Yindee will never have to deal with this scourge.
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@Hyak_II I would like to inform you that Chester have actually have had 2 Calf's survive EEHV. The second Calf at Chester too survive this deadly virus was Indali's younger Brother and Uncle Anjan.Latest update about Anjan | Chester Zoo
 
The Hedgehog said:
@Hyak_II I would like to inform you that Chester have actually have had 2 Calf's survive EEHV. The second Calf at Chester too survive this deadly virus was Indali's younger Brother and Uncle Anjan.Latest update about Anjan | Chester Zoo
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Anjan only had a small anomaly in his EEHV screenings; that dosen't mean he contracted EHHV. Indali is the only elephant at Chester to survive EEHV after contracting it, so far. As @Hyak_II said, only one of eight of their calves that have been given treatment, have survived. EEHV is a very tough virus to treat, and zoos are still working to find efficient techniques to help survival today.
 
MennoPebesma said:
This morning, the three-year-old elephant Thabo was put to sleep in Dierenpark Amersfoort after he was diagnosed with the herpes virus (EEHV). The elephant bull could no longer recover from this very dangerous virus.

Yesterday, Thabo's condition deteriorated rapidly and a blood test revealed that the elephant was carrying the herpes virus. The zookeepers, vet and other specialists have done everything to save Thabo. After it turned out that Thabo would die, the park put him to sleep with an eye on animal welfare. The elephants have been able to say goodbye to Thabo.
Click to expand...
This is very sad news. :( We can only hope that Yindi is fine. I hope that EEHV will no longer be present in Amersfoort.
 
Bangka at Rotterdam has just given birth to a healthy little calf!

A nice natural herd birth, as well, and a valuable learning experience for Bangka's older daughter, Faya, who will likely have a calf of her own in the new few years.

This now puts Rotterdam up to 7 animals, bull Fahim and cows Irma, Bangka, Trong Nhi, Faya, Li Nih, and the new calf (currently unsexed, but fingers crossed for a girl).
 
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