Arabic version: صغار أفيال ويريبي ينضمون إلى تجربة لقاح ضد فيروس قاتل

According to ABC News, three young elephants at Werribee Open Range Zoo have become the first calves in Australia to receive an experimental vaccine against elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus, or EEHV. The virus has no cure and can cause massive internal bleeding, leading to death within 24 hours.

The trial follows the death of Man Jai, an Asian elephant who died from EEHV three years ago at the age of nine. The virus is among the largest killers of young Asian elephants in zoos worldwide, with more than 90 deadly cases in calves under human care reported over the past 25 years.

Veterinary scientist Tabitha Hoornweg of Utrecht University is leading the vaccine research. Her team is one of three groups, alongside teams in the United States and United Kingdom, developing and testing EEHV vaccines. A previous test involving six older elephants in Dutch zoos found no dangerous side effects, but researchers now aim to determine whether the vaccine protects younger animals.

Eleven elephant calves have so far been vaccinated across Europe. At Werribee, the three calves are monitored through weekly PCR and blood tests, allowing keepers to quickly identify signs of illness. Testing includes a saline “trunk wash”, collected after elephants are trained to hold saline in a nostril and blow the sample into a bag.

Keepers used food rewards and training to prepare the calves for vaccination. One calf, Roi-Yim, received the injection in his thigh while his mother, Mali, remained nearby. Zookeeper Lucy Truelson said Man Jai’s death strengthened the zoo’s commitment to fighting the disease, describing the vaccine trial as part of his legacy.