Miracle EleTwins Receive Groundbreaking EEHV Vaccine

County Executive Ryan McMahon announced today that Yaad and Tukada, our two miracle twin elephants, have made history as among the first elephants to receive the groundbreaking Elephant Endotheliotropic Herpes Virus (EEHV) vaccine at Rosamond Gifford Zoo. The twins, who were born at the zoo on October 24th 2022 are considered miracle twins due to the less than 1% likelihood of live twin Asian elephant births, making them the only twin elephants in North America.

EEHV is a deadly virus that has devastated elephant populations worldwide. The development of the vaccine represents a significant breakthrough in the fight to protect these magnificent animals. Thanks to the tireless dedication and training of the staff at Rosamond Gifford Zoo, Yaad and Tukada were able to receive the vaccine safely and efficiently. The development of this vaccine was done at Baylor College of Medicine and due to careful coordination with Rosamond Gifford Zoo and Cornell University, the twin elephants were able to receive this potentially lifesaving vaccine.

"We are incredibly proud of the Rosamond Gifford Zoo for their groundbreaking work in animal health," said Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon. "The zoo's commitment to providing the highest quality care for their animals, coupled with their dedication to scientific research, makes them a leader in the field. The vaccination of Yaad and Tukada against EEHV is a major milestone in protecting these majestic creatures and demonstrates the zoo's unwavering commitment to their well-being."

“We couldn’t be happier to be among the first chosen to participate in this vaccine study,” said Ted Fox, Executive Director of the Rosamond Gifford Zoo. “This is a landmark achievement for the species and a huge step towards their conservation efforts and eradicating this terrible disease for these animals both in the wild and in human care.”

The AZA accredited Rosamond Gifford Zoo is committed to providing the highest quality care for its animals. The vaccination of Yaad and Tukada is a testament to the zoo’s commitment to animal welfare and conservation.

This first of its kind mRNA vaccine targets the specific 1A strain of EEHV. Administering this vaccine to the twins marks a monumental step forward in the ongoing battle against the deadly disease.

Yaad and Tukada's previous serology results for EEHV1A showed that they were both close to, or are, seronegative for EEHV1A, meaning that they are at risk for developing the potentially fatal illness. Being selected to be part of the EEHV1A mRNA vaccine trial is a huge opportunity for the calves for their immune system to develop antibodies to a protective level. Even more excitingly, the calves will contribute important data to Baylor College of Medicine's research. This collaborative endeavor underscores the vital role zoos play in wildlife conservation and scientific research. The work the Rosamond Gifford Zoo does here benefits not only our elephants, but also global elephant populations.

As we celebrate this exciting breakthrough, we remain cautiously optimistic as we are in the trial stage of our ambitious endeavor to combat EEHV. The trial aims to test the efficacy of the vaccine against EEHV1A, a specific strain of EEHV. Research and development will continue in hopes of creating a vaccine that protects elephants from all strains of EEHV. The Rosamond Gifford Zoo will continue to monitor Yaad and Tukada closely as we provide top-notch care to all our elephants. As always, we will ensure their well-being as we analyze the success of the vaccine. With vital and continued support from our community, these magnificent animals will have a greater chance at combating EEHV.

Posted 53 days ago

by Rosamond Gifford Zoo

Miracle EleTwins Receive Groundbreaking EEHV Vaccine

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