Dublin Zoo announces clean bill of health for elephant herd

After hundreds of hours of dedicated care from Dublin Zoo staff, along with unprecedented support from international veterinary experts, other zoos, and cooperation from An Garda Síochána, as well as the Irish and British governments, the elephants have recovered and are healthy again.

Dublin Zoo is delighted to announce that all Asian elephants in its herd are now healthy, following an outbreak of the EEHV virus over the summer.  

In July, Dublin Zoo announced that two elephants, Asha (17 years old) and Samiya (10 years old), had tested positive for the virus. This came after the heartbreaking deaths of two younger elephants, Avani (8 years old) and Zinda (7 years old), due to the disease. Dina, the 40-year-old matriarch of the herd, also tested positive, but because of her age, she was not considered at high risk for serious illness.

All three elephants have now recovered and are no longer at risk from EEHV, thanks to the incredible efforts of Dublin Zoo’s animal care and veterinary teams in monitoring and treating the animals.

Everyone involved worked tirelessly during the most critical and challenging days of this emergency, regularly consulting with international experts in elephant health and virology. Given the seriousness of EEHV, Dublin Zoo animal care and veterinary teams worked round the clock, spending hundreds of hours on site during the crisis. As just one example of the team’s commitment and unwavering care that played a massive role in the elephant’s recovery, vet Niamh McGill was just back from maternity leave and had her husband bring their baby to the Zoo so she could breastfeed him while caring for the elephants.

Aung Bo, Dublin Zoo’s bull elephant was also closely monitored for EEHV but never tested positive for the active virus, meaning Dublin Zoo’s herd now has a clean bill of health.

These positive developments have allowed the successful phased integration of Aung Bo with the rest of the herd at Dublin Zoo. The bull had been in quarantine since his arrival from Chester Zoo in June as part of the European Endangered Species Programme (EEP). Last week initial careful steps were taken to slowly introduce him to Dina and her daughters. The signs from these initial encounters were very positive meaning visitors can now observe Aung Bo alongside Dina, Asha, and Samiya, enjoying their shared space, including the pool and various enrichment items provided to encourage natural behaviours,

EEHV, or Elephant Endotheliotropic Herpesvirus, is a life-threatening virus that affects elephants in human care and in the wild, threatening the survival of these endangered species globally. EEHV can remain latent in elephants for years, but when active can cause internal bleeding and death. This is particularly the case for younger elephants like Avani and Zinda, who are less likely to have developed sufficient levels of immunity against EEHV, making them more susceptible to activation and subsequent illness.

Extensive research continues into EEHV. However, there is still much to be learned about the causes of EEHV activation and disease, meaning that predicting and managing the disease is difficult. When activated, EEHV disease is treated with anti-viral drugs and transfusions. Early detection of activated EEHV is vital to ensure the best chances of survival, meaning regular blood tests are crucial. 

During this trying period, Dublin Zoo has been fortunate to receive invaluable external assistance. Chester Zoo were a wonderful source of support from the very beginning, providing vital blood products to help fight the infection in Dublin Zoo’s elephants. The urgent importation of these essential supplies was facilitated by the Irish and UK governments, and the products were escorted from Dublin Zoo by An Garda Síochána.

Dublin Zoo also wants to thank the Irish public for the overwhelming support received since July, through messages on social media and even via letters to the Zoo. These were a huge source of strength and morale to the Zoo team as they navigated one of the toughest periods the Zoo has ever faced.

Dr Christoph Schwitzer, Director of Dublin Zoo, said: “It’s a bittersweet moment for everyone here at Dublin Zoo. While we are relieved and grateful that our elephant herd has recovered from the EEHV outbreak, we will never forget the tragic loss of two elephants earlier in this challenging journey. This outcome is the result of two months of unwavering dedication and hard work from our animal care and veterinary teams, whose commitment has made us incredibly proud.

“We are determined to use our experiences during this trying time for Dublin Zoo in a positive way, and the widespread interest in the story has led to outreach from the Irish scientific community, who were keen to offer assistance and advice. A number of these conversations, while at an early stage, offer a potential path towards an effective treatment of EEHV.”