Thiruvananthapuram: A six-year-old elephant calf died due to herpes virus infection at the rehabilitation center for Pachyderms in the Kottur here, making it the second victim there in one week.
On June 28, a female calf named Sreyekty, who was only about one and a half years old, had died at the center because of the same virus, said Wildlife Warden Thiruvananthapuram.
The official said the post-corpse was revealed that the cause of death was the herpes virus, which is common among elephants in the wild and manifesty when their immunity is low or genetically weak.
He said that the calf in the middle is “genetically inferior in general” for their colleagues in the wild and therefore, more vulnerable to the virus.
Ani said three more calves – Podichi, Aamina and Kannan – underwent treatment IV because they showed symptoms of viral infections.
Apart from them, six other calves under the age of 10 are under observation and have been prophylaxis to prevent infection, he said.
There were a total of 11 calves under the age of 10 years in the middle and with the death of Srevautty last week and now Arjun, the number has dropped to 9.
The official said there were 80 percent mortality rate among Betis below the age of 8 years and the level of infection was also high in among them.
He said that usually a calf died within 48 hours with a symptom exhibition, as in the case of Sreyekty and Arjun.