Baby Elephant Dies From Virus At Canadian Zoo
Date: 04-Nov-08
Country: CANADA
The 15-month-old pachyderm, named Malti, collapsed and died on Saturday afternoon, one day after being diagnosed with elephant herpes virus, a disease that can cause internal bleeding, zoo officials said in a press release.
"The disease, which has also been diagnosed in the wild, is responsible for the death of nearly a dozen young North American elephants in the past 20 years," the zoo said. "Over 40 cases have been documented in North America, Europe and Asia."
A string of animals have died at the Calgary Zoo since 2004, including a hippopotamus, several gorillas, more than 40 stingrays, and another young elephant who was rejected by her mother.
(Editing by Mohammad Zargham)