Baby Elephant ‘Abhi’ Dies at Nandankanan

Bhubaneswar: A 17-month-old baby elephant – Abhi, who had been receiving treatment for Elephant Endotheliotropic Herpesvirus (EEHV), died at Nandankanan Zoo on Thursday around 12:30 pm.

Sources said, Abhi started showing erratic behavior and became restless shortly before his death. The zoo veterinarians immediately placed him on oxygen support and administered lifesaving medications. Despite all efforts, the team was unable to save the baby elephant.

It may be noted that Abhi’s health started deteriorating on September 21, when he stopped eating and developed signs of a high fever. Following these alarming symptoms, zoo experts collected a blood sample and sent it to the Centre for Wildlife Health for analysis. The results confirmed an EEHV infection, leading to a continuous treatment regimen overseen by a dedicated veterinary team.

Worth mentioning, Abhi was rescued from a forest near Ghatagaon of Keonjhar when he was just two months old on June 25, 2023. He was found roaming alone in the forest, and local villagers rescued the baby elephant. However, due to human contact, his mother did not accept him. As a result, the Forest Department transferred Abhi to Nandankanan Zoo for rehabilitation.