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Mourning in the zoo: baby elephant Otto dies of herpes virus!
Leipzig Zoo says goodbye to elephants Rani and Savani. Tragic loss: Cub Otto dies of herpes virus in Munich.
Mourning in the zoo: baby elephant Otto dies of herpes virus!
Leipzig Zoo recently said goodbye to the elephants Rani and Savani. The two animals moved to Munich because they were living in an intolerable condition in Leipzig. They were excluded from their herd and finally found a new home in Hellabrunn Zoo. They have settled in well there and are enjoying life in their new herd. In the popular MDR soap “Elephant, Tiger & Co.” It was reported that Rani is lovingly caring for her daughter Savani and another cub.
Tragically, it was discovered on June 14th at Hellabrunn Zoo that the four-and-a-half-year-old bull elephant Otto was suffering from a herpes infection. This disease, known as elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus (EEHV-1), is particularly dangerous for young elephants and is often fatal. Under intensive care from veterinarians and carers, an emergency program was started to stabilize Otto's condition. But despite all efforts, his health quickly deteriorated and Otto died on June 16 as a result of the infection.
Mourning for Otto
Rasem Baban, the board and zoo director, expressed his sadness at the loss of the young elephant. He emphasized the impact this loss would have on the elephant group and the care team. The remaining elephants in the Hellabrunner group are doing well and have immune protection. They also had the opportunity to say goodbye to Otto. Otto's body is autopsied to gain further information.
Although Otto was vaccinated and received intensive care, including the administration of his father's blood plasma, experts are aware that the course of such infections in young animals is often rapid and aggressive. This challenge represents a constant danger for many zoos that work with elephants.
While Rani and Savani start a new life in Munich, the loss of Otto remains a sad memory that leaves a lasting impression on both the zookeepers and the zoo's visitors. The elephant house reopened its doors to visitors on June 17th and allows people to observe the impressive animals.
Reported in summary Thuringia24 about the fate of elephants and BR, by explaining Otto's tragic fate and the consequences for the group of elephants.