In October 2023, the Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium welcomed two African elephants, Christie, 37, and daughter, Zuri, 14, from Utah’s Hogle Zoo. This move was made on the recommendation of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ (AZA) Species Survival Plan (SSP) for African elephants, which helps to ensure genetic diversity of the species. Christie and Zuri joined a herd of seven African elephants that already resided at the KCZoo, including six females and one male.
EEHV3 Concerns
Animal care specialists and veterinarians from both zoos began working together six months before the move to make the transfer as smooth and stress-free as possible for the elephants. The possibility of elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus (EEHV) was also part of those discussions as Zuri would be particularly susceptible due to her age. EEHV is a virus that can be found in African and Asian elephants worldwide, both in their native ranges and in human care. It is a naturally occurring hemorrhagic infection with many strains and unfortunately, there is currently no vaccine. While some antibodies to the various strains of EEHV usually occur naturally in elephants, it was determined that Zuri had no antibodies to the strain known as EEHV3, though Christie and the elephants at the KCZoo did. While the move was extremely important in order for Christie and Zuri to join a larger herd and have an opportunity to eventually mate, being prepared for EEHV when the herds merged was now even more imperative. Knowing that Zuri would be susceptible to an active infection regardless of where she lived, it was decided the best course of action was careful planning to give her the best possible chances for survival when that occurred.
Ground-Breaking Medical Care
Upon the advice of EEHV experts and in a first-of-its kind preventative measure, the teams at the two zoos worked together to administer two plasma transfusions that could provide Zuri with EEHV3 antibodies to help her fight a future infection. The bull elephant at KCZoo, Tamani, was the first plasma donor. The plasma units were hand-carried on a flight from Missouri to Utah to provide Zuri with the ability to fight the infection. Hogle Zoo and KCZoo veterinarians and staff administered the first transfusion, and the Hogle Zoo team administered a second transfusion from a cross-matched donor one week later. The transfusions were a success, providing Zuri with significant detectable levels of antibodies to EEHV3. Though levels decreased somewhat, a significant level persisted for 16 weeks. The KCZoo stored more than three days’ worth of plasma in the event of additional need.
Once Christie and Zuri arrived in Kansas City, animal care specialists from Hogle Zoo stayed on to ensure a successful transition of care. Training and relationship-building between the elephants and care specialists is critical to their health care so this was extremely important. Christie and Zuri were already trained for many behaviors that allowed regularly scheduled trunk washes, thermographs, and blood samples, and it was these diagnostic tests that would alert the veterinary health team quickly to any concerns.
On Saturday, February 24, preventative thermal imaging demonstrated Zuri’s temperature had increased ten degrees, though she showed no other symptoms, so daily blood samples were taken. On Wednesday, February 28, blood results from Sunday and Monday showed she was infected with EEHV3 and treatment began within two hours. Oral medication, oral fluids, and transrectal fluids were all utilized, along with a transfusion of previously frozen plasma provided by an elephant at Dallas Zoo. This was intended to provide Zuri with additional antibodies to EEHV3 so that her body could help fight the virus. The next day, her platelets had decreased, so fresh plasma from an elephant at Sedgwick County Zoo in Wichita was administered to Zuri as well as antioxidants, anti-inflammatories, and rectal fluids. The sheer volume of fluids required to treat an elephant makes intravenous fluids impractical, so rectal fluids provide an effective and safe method to provide the fluids critical to healing her.
Healing and Recovery
Today, the Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium is cautiously optimistic that Zuri has cleared the worst of the virus and is on the road to complete recovery from EEHV3. Her blood samples indicate her immune system is continuing to fight the virus. Just prior to this infection, Zuri had already warded off EEHV2. She has natural antibodies to that strain that helped protect her, just as humans have antibodies to protect from viral strains. She has also tested positive for EEHV6 but has natural antibodies to that strain.
The other elephants that reside at the KCZoo have antibodies to all the EEHV strains that affect African elephants. Only Lea, age 45, has shown any recent signs of an active EEHV3 infection and her body was able to combat it with the help of anti-viral medication. The elephants continue to be screened routinely and staff are vigilant in monitoring them.
This successful recovery is a testament to the incredible care from the dedicated animal and veterinary care teams at the KCZoo and Utah’s Hogle Zoo, and the power of collaboration and careful planning. Many other zoos also helped to save Zuri, from the Dallas Zoo, Sedgwick County Zoo, and Seneca Park Zoo answering the call for plasma, to Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium and Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute rapidly analyzing blood samples. The North American EEHV Advisory Group and numerous representatives across the Zoo industry also consulted on the case.
“This has been a phenomenal example of working together,” said Sean Putney, executive director & CEO of Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium. “We’ve had amazing support from other AZA-accredited zoos and discussions with elephant advisors and veterinarians across the nation. I am most thankful, though, for our Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium staff, who have been working tirelessly. They have been here all hours of the day and night, traveled to other states, and just gone above and beyond to save Zuri. It’s been an unbelievable effort by all involved.”
“EEHV is a devastating virus for elephants, so we are incredibly grateful to have this positive outcome with Zuri,” Putney added. “It’s not just a win for us but for this endangered species as a whole. Hopefully some of what we’ve learned will help other elephants in the future.”
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