In the Netherlands, a new vaccine has been tested for the first time within the European Union against the herpes virus, which has been causing high mortality rates in young elephants for years. Researchers want to find out whether the vaccination can protect elephants. The research is carried out by Utrecht University, in collaboration with Wildlands zoo in Emmen, among others.
To start with, the adult elephants Bangka and Faya were vaccinated at Blijdorp Zoo. “Initially, six elephants over the age of five will be vaccinated to test the safety of the vaccine,” the Rotterdam animal shelter explains. “If these elephants do not experience any significant side effects, younger elephants, who do not have sufficient antibodies, will subsequently be vaccinated.”
Two young elephants recently succumbed to the herpes virus in Wildlands. The elephant calf Nagarr and Ka Yan (2 and 3 years old) died in the space of five days in November. The Emmer zoo is participating in vaccine research by donating blood from elephants. Money is also donated through its own foundation.
“A great breakthrough,” a spokeswoman for Wildlands calls the progress in the research. “The vaccinated elephants in Blijdorp are being closely monitored for possible side effects. If that goes well, younger elephants will also be vaccinated. Hopefully, elephants in all zoos will soon be protected.”
20 percent of Asian elephants in zoos die from the effects of the herpes virus. Elephants also suffer from this in the wild. They are almost always young elephants that have not yet built up enough antibodies. They are usually between one and ten years old. After the death of Nagarr and Ka Yan, two young elephants aged six are still in the herd in Emmen.
Apart from Wildlands and Blijdorp, more zoos participate in the research of the faculty of veterinary medicine. Eindhoven Zoo, DierenPark Amersfoort and ARTIS also cooperate.
Vaccines against the elephant herpes virus (EEHV) are also being developed in other places around the world. In this case, the vaccine was developed in Utrecht. “We think that our vaccine will be the most optimal,” says virologist Tabitha Hoornweg, involved in the research. “But it is especially positive if there are several options.” It is also still unclear to what extent the other vaccines protect against the herpes virus.