Battling EEHV: How Seneca Park Zoo is Saving Elephant Lives

Elephant Endotheliotropic Herpesvirus (EEHV) is a highly fatal disease affecting elephants in both natural range and human care. This herpesvirus causes severe symptoms, including lethargy, swelling, and internal bleeding. Particularly deadly in young elephants, EEHV can lead to death if not detected and treated early. 

EEHV is a leading cause of death in young elephants, threatening populations worldwide alongside habitat loss and poaching. Symptoms often appear rapidly, requiring immediate action for survival. 

In 2021, Seneca Park Zoo was asked if we could start banking plasma for a nationwide effort to create a plasma bank for potential EEHV cases. Our keepers immediately started training. Our elephants had to be trained to accept a larger needle, stand for a longer period for a plasma draw than their normal monthly blood draw, and allow a blood draw from the back of their ears.  Genny C., Lilac, and Moki love spending time with their keepers training and the needle size did not phase any of our girls. We also offered their favorite treats for this procedure, bagel pieces! We now successfully have plasma for each of our three African elephants. We can send this plasma to any zoo that has EEHV case in their herd. 

At Seneca Park Zoo, we help save elephants with EEHV by contributing to a plasma/blood bank maintained by various zoos. Regular blood tests and screenings help monitor our elephants’ health.  

By maintaining a plasma bank, Seneca Park Zoo plays a crucial role in the survival of elephants affected by EEHV. Genny C’s recent plasma donation saved another elephant’s life, highlighting the importance of our work. 

EEHV remains a formidable threat, but through collaborative efforts and prompt action, we can combat this disease. At Seneca Park Zoo, we are committed to this cause, ensuring that elephants have a fighting chance against EEHV. Together, we can make a difference and protect these gentle giants for future generations. 

Stand For Conservation and Join Our Mission

The Zoo is a beloved cultural institution and a place to be close to nature – but there is so much more to learn about the impact of the Seneca Park Zoo Society. Stand for Conservation by making your donation today.

 

Science Saving Species at Seneca Park Zoo

By Robin English, Seneca Park Zoo Senior Veterinary Technician

The Seneca Park Zoo is committed to playing a part in the conservation of species. By utilizing the scientific advances available to the zoo community, we can contribute more and more every day. Whether we are collecting samples, testing equipment, or aiding in the understanding of new techniques, the participation of the staff and the animals has helped to create a global network of collaborators for the betterment of zoo animals and their counterparts in nature.

What can be learned from collecting samples? Anything! The animal health team collects blood samples from our animals during every checkup. We also have several animals that will allow us to collect samples voluntarily. The data used from these samples can be compared across all zoos and can also be used as baseline data for samples collected from wild populations. It’s not just about the blood samples either. Over the last few decades, research on utilizing feces for analysis has grown. We can now learn hormonal changes to predict pregnancy, DNA sequencing to identify species, and more!

 

Masai giraffe Kipenzi participating in a blood draw

How do researchers know their equipment will work in nature? They bring it to the zoo for trials! Our African elephants have tested radio telemetry devices to see how they will stand up to the challenge. The designers can then make adjustments before deploying valuable equipment into the field.

Image: savetheelephants.org

Can zoo animals help to learn more about in situ populations? You bet they can! Our polar bear, Anoki, participated in a bite study where the amount of bites she took from a food item was compared to that of polar bears in nature. She has also been photographed so researchers can compare body condition markers of a healthy bear with those in nature.

Want to learn more about how Science is Saving Species? Stop by the zoo this weekend and chat with our veterinary technicians to find out more!

Media Coordinator

Domestic Rabbit

Domestic Rabbit

(Oryctolagus cuniculus)

The Zoo is home to one domestic rabbit as part of our Ambassador Animal collection. 

Animal Facts

Diet

Herbivore. Grasses, leaves, flowers, bark, roots, grains, vegetables, cecotropes, pellets, timothy hay, greens and veggies.

Status in The Wild

International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List status

Domestic rabbit natural habitats include grassland, shrubland, savanna, forest. Their range extends the Iberian Peninsula (including Spain, Portugal, and southwestern France), western France, and the northern Atlas Mountains in Northwest Africa.

Introduced countries: Albania, Algeria, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Chile, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Morocco, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States.

They prefer mixed habitats of Mediterranean oak savanna or scrub-forest, or areas with around 40% cover for shelter from predators and open areas that support their diet of grasses and cereals. They are also often found in areas with high density of managed farmland. Soft soil is preferred for building warrens and in rockier habitats they will often use scrubs as their shelter.

Degu

Degu

The Zoo is home to three degus in our Ambassador Animal collection. As such they are not kept in public view, but available for various programs, classes, ZooMobiles, birthday parties etc. 

Animal Facts

Diet

Herbivorous. Grasses, leaves, and bark of shrubs and seeds in nature. Rodent chow, greens, vegetables, hay and seeds in conservation care.

Status in The Wild

International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List status

There are no imminent threats to the survival of common degus. However, they are sometimes taken from their natural range for the pet trade.

Camp Counselor

Spend Spring Break / Cats & Conservation Week at the Zoo – Summer Programming Preview!

Ball Python

Ball Python

(Python regius)

The Zoo’s male ball python was born in 2009 and came to Seneca Park Zoo in 2013. He is a part of the Zoo’s program animal collection.

Animal Facts

Diet

Ball pythons feed primarily on rodents, but will also eat other small mammals and birds. Ball pythons only eat once every few weeks; they can go up to several months with no food.

Status in The Wild

International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List status

The ball python lives in western and central Africa. They can be found in open forests and dry savannas.

Usually they reside in areas near open water where they can cool themselves during hot weather.

Ball pythons are considered threatened in the wild. They are a highly-exploited species and are very important to the pet trade because of their beautiful skin. The ball python mates only every two to three years, so more effort is needed to protect and propagate this species.

Buffalo Weaver

Buffalo Weaver

(Dinemellia dinemelli)

Seneca Park Zoo is home to two white-headed buffalo weavers. They reside in the aviary, which can be found inside the Animals of the Savanna building.

Animal Facts

Diet

Buffalo weavers are omnivorous, foraging for fruits, seeds and invertebrates such as beetles and butterflies.

Status in The Wild

International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List status

The range of buffalo weavers extends throughout eastern Africa, from Tanzania to Somalia.

They prefer savanna and shrubland habitat, using grass and thorny branches to weave elaborate nests in trees. Potential threats for this species are habitat loss and fragmentation.