The bull has nothing to do with the female`s hierarchy and being the mother of the bull who is most of the time seperated from the herd won`t help a female becoming matriarch. So if anyone has any real knowledge about who`s the lead female now, I`d be interested too.
2nd Elephant calf, Maliha, is diagnosed for EEHV. Jade continues to do well. 02/18/2009 - 2nd elephant at St. Louis Zoo tests positive for herpes - STLtoday.com
Its probably because of the fact that the zoo was actually dumb enough to keep Jade exhibited with Maliha even though Jade has the herpes. I hope these two make it as Jade is doing well and they caught Maliha early
Hopefully Maliha gets well, adn hoepfully as well the same method on Jade will work wonders on Maliha.
Its on the zoo's website: It is still unknown how the disease is transferred. Jade is part of the zoo's elephant herd, to be seperated from them would be very stressful...compromising her immune system. An educated guess, would lead me to presume that Jade had herpes before showing any symptoms...she acquired the virus somewhere at the zoo, its the only place she has ever been. While Maliha has now been diagnosed with EEHV, she is not showing any symptoms...and may just as well had EEHV before Jade began showing symptoms also. Why would there be anymore risk now (with keeping the calves together), then before it was known that EEHV existed in the zoo's herd?
Has Raja been seen mating with any other females lately?, all the more precaution to take if a new calf were to come into the herd as it too might be infected. Has Sri's dead fetus come out yet?
I dont think this is part of the EEHV theory but I've noticed multiple instances when certain bulls sire calves that acquire EEHV. I know the virus is environmental not genetic but a very weird coincidence (i.e. - Sabu, Cincy Male, both calves died of Herpes at two different zoos).
Another update on Jade's condition: 02/23/2009 - Jade responding to treatment at St. Louis Zoo - STLtoday.com
