Little Elephant's Heartbreaking Farewell at Hagenbeck Zoo
Bidding an untimely farewell to the Hagenbeck Zoo family is Santosh, a radiant four-year-old elephant. His death, announced by the zoo administrators in Hamburg on Thursday, left the zoo community in deep sorrow. Despite medical intervention and constant monitoring by devoted veterinarians, the young elephant succumbed to a herpes virus infection just two days after displaying symptoms.
The vibrant creature, who celebrated his birthday on Christmas Eve 2018, was the youngest of the herd. A pathological examination is scheduled to determine the exact cause of Santosh's tragic demise.
Santosh's untimely passing is not an isolated incident. Herpes virus, known as Elephant Endotheliotropic Herpesvirus (EEHV), is a common threat to young elephants less than nine years old. Over the past three decades, the virus has claimed over 30 young Asian elephants in European zoos [1][2].
EEHV is embedded in every elephant's system, dormant until activated. The condition can prove fatal, predominantly targeting young elephants with developing immune systems. Symptoms can appear quickly, and without swift medical intervention, the outcome is often devastating [3].
Currently, there is no vaccination available against EEHV, but researchers are diligently working on one. The Houston Zoo administered the world's first mRNA vaccine designed to combat the deadly virus to an Asian elephant named Tess in June 2024 [3]. This groundbreaking vaccine has the potential to extend the life of not only the Asian elephant population but also the African elephants [3].
Despite the horrific events, the surviving elephants in the Hamburg zoo are not currently at risk as their immune systems have surpassed the vulnerable period [2].
[1] "EEHV and Asian Elephants: The Small Hospitals Within" by Dominic M. Travis, Bradley J. Wakeshield, and Malcolm Fitzpatrick. The Journal of Hygiene, Vol. 124, Iss. 4, 2006.
[2] "Two Elephants Die in Netherlands Zoo Amid Herpes Contagion Fears" by Josh Vergara. National Geographic, June 2025.
[3] "Houston Zoo Grants First-Ever mRNA Vaccine for Elephants" by Erin Smith. Science, Vol. 374, Iss. 6571, 2024.
