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.
Odisha Forest and Environment minister, Bikram Keshari Arukh today informed that following the deaths of four elephants in quick succession in Nandankanan zoo, the State government had sought the intervention of CZA. Based on the request, CZA has recently constituted a six-member experts team to review and suggest necessary treatment to tackle the elephant endotheliotropic herpes virus (EEHV).
The six-member team of veterinary specialists will develop a standard operating procedure to prevent jumbo deaths.
“As it was the first major herpes virus outbreak and there is no specified treatment, Odisha had requested CZA to suggest ways to tackle the situation. Already an experts committee has been constituted and we hope that something concrete will emerge after the committee’s first meeting,” said Arukh.
It is pertinent to mention here that female elephant ‘Julie’ was the first victim of the herpes virus at the zoo. Julie had died on August 27.
A few days later on September 16, the lone male elephant, ‘Chandan’ died in the zoo after being infected with the virus. Subsequently, sub-adult elephant, ‘Kamala’ and ‘Gauri’ also succumbed to the virus at the zoo.