The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Elephant dies at Vandalur zoo

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Sunday, Nov 22, 2009
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Elephant dies at Vandalur zoo

Special Correspondent

CHENNAI: A four-year-old sub adult cow elephant died at Vandalur zoo, on Friday due to a suspected attack of herpes virus.

The zoo authorities said the elephant, Chellamma, was rescued from the Andhiyur forests in Erode district and brought to the zoo in 2005. Since Friday morning, the animal refused food. Its head started swelling and administration of prophylactic medicines also did not help.

Adults survive

According to the authorities, adult animals survive the virus.

But sub adults and calves die within hours of the attack, authorities said.

After Chellamma’s head began to swell, the zoo authorities isolated the elephant from other animals. The authorities applied lime powder in the enclosure, where the animal died.

They also sprayed disinfectants in the area.

Herpes virus attacks blood vessels, heart and other organs and is common among Asian elephants. The disease is fatal and targets only captive-bred juvenile elephants.

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