Washington zoo calf becomes centerpiece of new fight against lethal elephant virus
A baby Asian elephant at the National Zoo is being used in a novel experiment to expose her to EEHV while she still has maternal antibodies, aiming to build lasting immunity against the disease.
The National Zoo's newest calf, Linh Mai, is at the heart of an experimental program to combat elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus, the leading cause of death in young Asian elephants. Staff regularly draw mucus-filled fluid from her trunk, test it for the virus, and then inject small amounts back into her, timing the exposure while maternal antibodies are still strong. Veterinarian James Steeil explains that this could give Linh Mai a fighting chance and teach her immune system to resist future infections.
Director of Animal Care Tony Barthel notes the disease can progress from subtle signs to fatal outcomes within a day, underscoring the urgency of new tools. The project hopes to create a replicable method that can safeguard other calves worldwide and strengthen the overall herd at the zoo.
Why it matters
Developing immunity in a zoo-born elephant could provide a model to protect endangered Asian elephants from a deadly virus.
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