OKC Zoo provides it youngest elephant with new vaccine for the elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus (EEHV) in advance of his first birthday, supporting vital elephant care and research.
The Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden’s male Asian elephant calf, Xerxes, is making history as he is the Zoo’s first elephant to receive a groundbreaking vaccine for the elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus (EEHV), a devasting virus that affects Asian and African elephants in wild and human care populations.
Xerxes, who turns a year old today, June 17, received the ultimate birthday present when he was given the first of three doses of an mRNA vaccine to prevent EEHV 1A virus, the most common and fatal strain of this disease. The Zoo’s veterinary and elephant care team members administered the vaccine on Wednesday, June 10 which Xerxes voluntarily participated in getting as a result of training with his caretakers.
“This is such a momentous milestone for Xerxes and our elephant program,” said OKC Zoo’s Curator of Elephants, Rachel Boyd. “Our caretakers have been working with Xerxes since birth to build a relationship and train for these medical behaviors, and it all paid off when he got this vaccine. We’re all celebrating our little guy and this huge win for our Asian elephants.”
The development of the EEHV vaccine stems from over 15 years of research led by Dr. Paul Ling and a team of virologists at Baylor College of Medicine and the collaborative efforts of Association of Zoos and Aquarium (AZA) organizations caring for elephants, the North American EEHV Advisory Group, global conservation and research organizations, and other partners.
“The idea of a EEHV vaccine seemed like a dream for years and now, thanks to the dedication and collaboration of specialists and elephant experts around the world, the dream is a reality,” added Boyd. “We are extremely proud to support this vaccine and incorporate it into our preventive care program for Xerxes and future calves born at the Zoo, to help protect them from this life-threatening virus.”
“Xerxes is doing great since receiving the vaccine and has not experienced any adverse side effects,” said OKC Zoo’s Director of Veterinary Services, Dr. Gretchen Cole. “Xerxes currently has maternal antibodies, which are expected to begin declining this year. Our goal is for this vaccine to provide protection until he has natural exposure to the virus and develops his own antibodies. We will continue to closely monitor him and regularly assess his antibody levels through blood testing.”
As an organization committed to caring for and breeding Asian elephants, the OKC Zoo has become a leader in EEHV preparedness and education. The Zoo has invested in an in-house EEHV monitoring program that analyzes for any DNA evidence of the virus, and thanks to the elephant team’s successful training program the herd members participate in a variety of medical behaviors such as blood draws and trunk washes to test for EEHV. The Zoo also contributes to vital EEHV research by helping to maintain a blood-matching database for Asian elephants among AZA organizations to match donor animals in the case of an emergency.
Born to first-time parents Achara and Bowie, Xerxes’ arrival marked the third generation of elephants in the Zoo’s herd. The Zoo’s elephant family includes Xerxes’ grandmother, Asha (31), Chandra (29), Achara (11), Kairavi (7), Rama (4), and males Kandula (24) and Bowie (12) plus Asha is expecting a calf in September. As Xerxes celebrates his first birthday, his caretakers share that he weighs over 1,000 pounds and is extremely active and engaged in training.
Asian elephants are endangered, with the species facing threats such as habitat loss and human-elephant conflict. The Oklahoma City Zoo leads conservation efforts to understand and address human-elephant conflict through its research initiative, the Sri Lanka Elephant Project. The OKC Zoo is currently the only AZA zoo leading research on wild Asian elephants to better understand how human activity influences behavior, social relationships, and health outcomes. The Zoo is also a partner of the Asian Elephant SAFE: Saving Animals From Extinction program to raise awareness for Asian elephants through conservation education, outreach, and special events.
Located at the crossroads of I-44 and I-35, the Oklahoma City Zoo is a proud member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, the American Alliance of Museums and Oklahoma City’s Adventure District. Purchase Zoo admission in advance at okczoo.org/tickets and bypass the lines. Follow the OKC Zoo on Facebook, Instagram, Linktree, and TikTok to stay connected with Zoo news and happenings.
Experience the OKC Zoo as only a ZOOfriends member can! With a ZOOfriends membership, enjoy free general admission to the Zoo for 12 months, plus additional benefits and discounts. You will also be supporting the Zoo’s animal family, education programming, and conservation initiatives both locally and globally. Join or renew today at okczoo.org/membership.