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ELEPHANT ENDOTHELIOTROPIC HERPESVIRUS (EEHV) IS A DEADLY VIRUS WHICH AFFECTS YOUNG ELEPHANTS GLOBALLY. WE WANT TO FIND A SOLUTION TO THIS DISEASE.

This complex disease is having a catastrophic effect on the global conservation of the Asian elephant and we want to find a solution to the problem as soon as possible to stop more elephants from dying from this lethal disease. Read our Frequently Asked Questions about EEHV here

EEHV DOESN’T DISCRIMINATE

It doesn’t matter whether it’s a two year old elephant calf at Chester Zoo, at a zoo in the USA or in the wild in Asia – this is a problem right around the world which makes it even more critical that we find an answer.

Currently, not enough is known about this disease so we need to carry out vital research to hopefully get closer to finding a way to stopping it killing more elephants. We’re part of the global conservation community committed to the conservation of Asian elephants, so we will continue to carry out intensive research and work to discover more about this virus and how to treat it.

WE DON’T WANT IT TO BE AN EXTINCTION LEVEL EVENT FOR THIS MAGNIFICENT ANIMAL.

Only 18 months ago, the global search for a cure for EEHV seemed a difficult task. However, with thanks to research funded by your overwhelming generosity, we now have renewed hope. Although we still are not able to grow the virus in a lab, we have already discovered new avenues of medical science based on proteins produced by both the virus and the elephant’s immune system.

Your support is helping us to move towards developing, testing and validating an effective vaccine. Until and when this vaccine is found, we will also need to establish the best ways of providing long term treatment, both in zoos and the wild (e.g. whether a single inoculation will work for life or whether boosters will be needed).

You are helping us fight for the future of Asian elephants. Thank you.

THANKS TO YOUR AMAZING SUPPORT SO FAR…

As part of a post-doctoral position, Chester Zoo Conservation Fellow, Dr Tanja Maehr, is carrying out vital research into EEHV. This post-doctoral position has been funded through our Never Forget campaign and is ran in collaboration with the University of Surrey and the Animal and Plant Health Agency.

We’re also working closely with Akbar Dastjerdi, a Virologist at the Animal and Plant Health Agency, who has developed a method to detect EEHV. Members of our Applied Science team have received training from Akbar to see the method first hand and to gain an understanding of the equipment and materials they need to bring this testing to Chester Zoo.

This will allow us not only to test swab samples weekly without delay, but in the case of a positive EEHV result, the teams will be able to monitor the elephant with daily samples. This would give the vet team up to date information and aid treatment. We are currently procuring all of the equipment necessary and aim to have all equipment in place in the coming weeks so that we can start equivalence testing with the APHA lab.

Thanks to you, our amazing supporters, we are able to continue this vital research. 

WE’RE ACTING FOR ELEPHANTS…

…to help save the global population of the species. You can help find a solution by making a donation today. We Will Never Forget.

HOW WILL YOUR DONATION HELP ELEPHANTS?

When we first started researching EEHV, we could never have imagined that we would get so far so quickly, and that is as a direct result of our wonderful donors and our committed team of world-leading researchers. But there is still SO MUCH we need to do in order to get closer to our ultimate goal of eradicating EEHV altogether.

Your donation will help us as we continue our work to find out more about EEHV, and to develop a vaccine and further treatment options for sick elephants.

Asian elephants are endangered and every calf lost to this disease is a blow to this magnificent and irreplaceable species. Thank you for donating and helping us prevent extinction.

DONATE TO NEVER FORGET

By donating on this page, you will be supporting our ongoing work to
fight this terrible disease. Thank you so much for helping us secure a
future for baby elephants everywhere.

Make a donation

Your donation will help us protect wildlife here at Chester Zoo and all over the world. Thank you so much for supporting our mission of preventing extinction.