- Kerala’s forests recorded 845 elephant deaths between 2015 and 2023, with studies indicating an increasing trend in the death rate over time.
- As per the report of an elephant population estimation undertaken in the State’s four elephant reserves.
- Elephants under 10 years face the highest risk, with an alarming mortality rate of approximately 40%, mainly due to Elephant Endotheliotropic Herpesviruses – Haemorrhagic Disease (EEHV-HD).
- Larger herds provide better survival rates for calves due to shared immunity and exposure to various strains, which helps develop effective antibodies against EEHV-HD.
- The report emphasises the need to restore natural habitats and reduce herd fragmentation to prevent EEHV-HD from becoming a major threat.
- The study recommends adopting a structured protocol similar to Tamil Nadu’s Elephant Death Audit Framework (EDAF) to investigate elephant deaths, identify patterns, assess threats, and implement targeted conservation measures effectively.
| Elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus-haemorrhagic disease (EEHV-HD) in Elephas Maximas • It critically affects young Asian elephants, causing symptoms like fever, lethargy, bloody diarrhoea, and facial edema. • Haematological signs include anaemia and thrombocytopenia. • The disease may result from direct endothelial infection or increased vascular permeability due to cellular mediators. |
Dig Deeper: List diseases among Indian fauna caused due to habitat fragmentation and interbreeding between small populations.
