An African elephant named Shankar, aged 29, at the Delhi Zoo died on September 17 due to the encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV), a rodent-borne pathogen. An autopsy confirmed the presence of the virus, which causes fatal inflammation of the heart and sometimes brain fever in mammals. Shankar had lived in isolation for much of his life, and his death marks the first recorded EMCV-related death of an elephant in India.
Cause of Death Identified
Delhi Zoo director Sanjeet Kumar confirmed that an autopsy revealed Shankar tested positive for the encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV). The cause of Shankar's death on September 17 was initially unknown. Officials informed the BBC that a rodent-borne virus led to the death of the only African elephant at the zoo. When asked about the infection source or potential rodent issues at the zoo, Mr. Kumar stated, "It is a rare virus and I am not an expert on it." Shankar's autopsy was conducted at the Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI).
About Encephalomyocarditis Virus (EMCV)
EMCV is known to cause fatal inflammation of the heart and, in some cases, brain fever in mammals. The virus is spread through rodent faeces and urine. It replicates rapidly and can affect the heart and sometimes the brain, often leading to sudden death. There is currently no specific antiviral cure available for EMCV. According to the MSD veterinary manual, most EMCV outbreaks have been linked to captive animals in pig farms, primate research centers, and zoos.
History of EMCV Outbreaks
The encephalomyocarditis virus was first isolated in 1945 from a gibbon in Florida, as reported in Nature. A 2012 study in the medical journal Virulence indicates that EMCV has been documented globally in pigs, rodents, big cats, and African elephants, among other mammals. Since the 1970s, local outbreaks have been reported in various regions, including the US, South Africa, China, Australia, Canada, South America, and several European countries. Outbreaks in the US and South Africa specifically impacted captive African elephants.
In India, the virus was first isolated in the late 1960s. Shankar's death is the first "recorded" instance of EMCV causing death in an elephant in India, according to a senior IVRI official, who also suggested there may have been unreported cases in other mammals.
Shankar's History and Calls for Relocation
Shankar was one of two African elephants that arrived in India in 1998 as a diplomatic gift from Zimbabwe to former Indian President Shankar Dayal Sharma. His companion died in 2001. Following this, Shankar was temporarily housed with Asian elephants, but this arrangement was discontinued. In 2012, he was moved to a new enclosure where he lived alone. This occurred despite a 2009 federal regulation prohibiting the solitary confinement of elephants for more than six months. He remained in this enclosure until his death.
For years, activists had advocated for Shankar's removal from the zoo and rehabilitation in a wildlife sanctuary with other African elephants. In 2021, a petition was filed in Delhi's high court seeking his relocation. Two years later, the court dismissed the petition, directing the petitioner to approach a committee responsible for animal transfers between zoos.
Current Status of African Elephants in India
Following Shankar's death, there is only one African elephant remaining in India. This adult male resides alone at Mysore Zoo in southern Karnataka state, where he has been living for years.