Elephant deaths in Nandankanan Zoo are unusual: CZA

Bhubaneswar: A couple of days after the Nandankanan Zoological Park authorities wrote to the Central Zoo Authority (CZA) requesting a protocol on the herpes virus, officials of the CZA visited the zoo on Wednesday to investigate the reason behind the death of four elephants in quick succession.

After visiting the zoo, chief of national herpes project, Gourang Mahatto said, "Stress factor plays a vital role in the occurrence of this disease and I have given the international protocol for therapeutic management of this disease."

Besides, member secretary of CZA, SP Yadav today confirmed herpes viruses as the reason behind the jumbos' death while revealing that there is no adequate facility to test the samples taken from other elephants of the zoo.

While speaking to mediapersons, Yadav said, "This is a learning lesson for the entire country because nowhere in captivity, elephants have died because of this disease. So, we will learn from this and try to develop some protocols for the entire country."