Herpes scare: After four elephant deaths, another put in isolation at Odisha zoo

Bhubaneswar: With the suspected herpes virus continues to claim lives of elephants at Nandankanan Zoological Park (NZP) on outskirts of Odisha capital, another elephant was put in isolation at the wildlife habitat today.

A day after death of female elephant Gouri, a baby elephant ‘Mama’ was shifted to isolation ward for intensive treatment for herpes virus at the zoo, informed Nandankanan Director in-charge Shashi Paul today.

Meanwhile, in view of rising elephant death toll at the zoo, a high-level meeting has been convened today for discussion to tackle the spread of infection that has already claimed lives of 4 elephants in less than a month.

With death of Gouri yesterday night, only four elephants are left at the zoo.

The series of deaths of elephants come as a shock raising question on steps being taken by Nandankanan authorities for protecting the wildlife from the deadly disease.