Odisha Elephant Deaths: Herpes Confirmed In Another Jumbo Death

Bhubaneswar: The deadly endotheliotropic herpes virus led to the death of a female elephant at Chandaka-Dampada sanctuary, as per the findings of professor Sushen Panda, Head of Veterinary Pathology, Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT).

Earlier, the elephant was found sick near Banra village of Banki block and died yesterday while undergoing treatment. The pachyderm was being treated by experts of OUAT and an expert from Assam, sources said.

“As per the post mortem findings, it is ascertained that the elephant died of herpes virus infection,” said Panda.

Panda further stated that the Forest department needs to take concrete steps to detect and isolate the young elephants from the herd in wild as they are more prone to the virus.

After detecting any ailing young elephant, steps should be taken to isolate them from the herd and provide treatment, Panda added.

In another incident, carcass of an elephant calf was recovered today from a forest near Bhalughera village in Baripada. Though the exact cause of the death is yet to be ascertained, it is suspected that the calf died due to infighting within the herd of which it was a part, said the DFO.

It is pertinent to mention here that earlier four elephants had died of herpes virus inside Nandankanan zoo within a span of one month.