Why did ICC elephant calf Tsuni succumb to a sudden illness? Here's what we know.
FAIRHOPE ― Tsuni, the International Conservation Center's (ICC) beloved 2-year-old elephant calf, died Thursday after a brief illness, according to a release posted at the Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium's social media pages and on its website.
Tsuni was diagnosed with Elephant Endotheliotropic Herpesvirus (EEHV) on Feb. 8 after a routine blood test, even though she exhibited no outward signs of the disease, according to the zoo.
"The effects of the virus progressed very quickly and, despite immediate treatment and support, she did not survive," the release said.
Alexandra Cauley, the zoo's public relations and media manager, said in an email to the Daily American that "elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus (EEHV) is carried naturally by all elephants. It is currently unknown what triggers the emergent disease, even though the rest of the herd remains at low risk."
The zoo's release said that younger elephants (those from birth to age 8) are most at risk from the disease, whether they are in human care or in the wild. There is an 85 percent mortality rate in those cases.
The adult elephants at the ICC have built up antibodies against EEHV as they've aged, so they are at low risk for this disease, according to the release.
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The zoo said Tsuni received around-the-clock care from its animal health and care teams, the ICC and local and regional zoos in "a valiant effort" to save her life.
"Experts shared their experience with the disease, assisted with plasma transfusions, fluid therapies and antiviral medications, and zoos across the country sent fresh and frozen plasma donations from their elephants. All of these treatments were administered in an effort to overcome the fatal, hemorrhagic disease," the release said.
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Tsuni was 'a ball of energy'
Tsuni was a shortened version of the name Tsunami, given when she was born on July 18, 2021, at the ICC. Her mother is Sukuri and her father is Jackson, both of whom are among the adult elephants living at the ICC.
“That’s how she came into this world and that’s her behavior – she is just a ball of energy. She had a very rough start in this world. Her mom is a very tall elephant, and she was a very short calf," said Jeremy Goodman, president and CEO of the Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium, during a Somerset County Chamber of Commerce luncheon in April 2022.
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She also had trouble nursing with her mom, so Tsuni was often bottle-fed, Goodman said. He added at that time that "the first five or six years (of a baby elephant's life) are somewhat perilous, honestly," but that she was gaining weight and doing well.
Goodman released a statement Thursday on the death of the calf, saying, “Tsuni held a special place in the hearts of staff and visitors alike. Her loss is devastating to our entire zoo family. Her ability to fight through her early life medical challenges had been such an inspiration to everyone that worked with her. She will be terribly missed by everyone here as well as elephant lovers all over the world.”
Cauley added that "the International Conservation Center’s mission remains focused on conservation, research, education, breeding and training of African elephants."
The Pittsburgh Zoo and ICC guests are invited to share their memories of Tsuni on their social media pages., the release said.
This article originally appeared on The Daily American: Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium announces death of elephant calf Tsuni at the ICC near Somerset
