Elephant Endotheliotropic Herpesvirus (EEHV)

is killing baby elephants!

JP was just 3 1/2  years old when he died from EEHV.  This insidious, elephant-specific disease has a mortality rate estimated between 80 and 90% and has been the cause of death of approximately 25% of the Asian elephants born in North America since 1978.  It usually strikes when the calves are between 1 and 4 years old.  They most often succumb within 24 to 72 hours of showing the first symptoms.  Various strains of the virus are found in Asian and African elephants in human care around the world as well as in wild populations. To date, there is no known cure or vaccine but many scientists are working hard to change this.

YOU CAN HELP!  YOUR CONTRIBUTION WILL HELP SAVE THE LIFE OF AN ELEPHANT.

JP’s endless energy and enthusiasm was a source of delight for his mom, Rosie, and adoring aunties, Tai, Becky, Kitty and Dixie. We humans were blessed to have witnessed the affection, interaction and especially the wild playtime that JP inspired in all of them. 

Our elephant herd participates in an ongoing EEHV research project conducted by the National Elephant Herpesvirus Laboratory at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo. JP had been donating serum for this research throughout his entire lifetime. Upon his death, blood and

tissue samples were collected to gain desperately needed information for the studies and research projects working toward the answers and solutions to keep other baby elephants alive and healthy.

The loss of JP has inspired us to redouble our efforts to wipe out this deadly disease. We 

are committed to continuing to aid in EEHV research projects. We will work to help raise urgently needed funding for EEHV research through the International Elephant Foundation to support the important work being done by:

National Elephant Herpesvirus Laboratory at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo

Johns Hopkins University

Baylor College of Medicine

New York State College of Veterinary Medicine at Cornell University