Officials have confirmed that Shankar, the lone African elephant at Delhi Zoo, has tragically passed away due to a rare virus spread by rodents. The 29-year-old male elephant died on September 17th, with the cause of death initially unknown. Subsequent autopsies revealed he had contracted encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV), a condition that can cause severe inflammation of the heart and sometimes the brain in mammals, often leading to sudden death. The virus is known to spread through the droppings and urine of infected rodents.
EMCV outbreaks have frequently been observed in various captive animal settings, including zoos, with no specific antiviral treatment currently available. Studies have documented the virus’s presence in a range of mammals, including African elephants. While the virus was first identified in the US in 1945, it has since been reported in outbreaks across multiple continents. In India, EMCV was first isolated in the late 1960s, but Shankar’s case is believed to be the first recorded death attributed to the virus in the country.
Zoo officials are investigating the circumstances surrounding Shankar’s infection, including potential rodent issues within the zoo’s enclosure. Shankar’s solitary existence had been a cause for concern among animal welfare advocates for years. He arrived in India in 1998, but his companion died in 2001, leaving him isolated. Despite efforts to integrate him with Asian elephants and a move to a new enclosure in 2012, he remained largely alone until his death. Activists had long campaigned for his relocation to a sanctuary with other African elephants, a plea that was ultimately dismissed by the courts.
Shankar’s passing highlights the challenges in caring for exotic animals and the ongoing debate surrounding their welfare in captivity. India now has only one other African elephant, also living in solitude at Mysore Zoo.
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