By Dr Sonja Luz and Chatchote Thitaram,

on behalf of the Asian EEHV Working Group

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Elephant Endotheliotropic Herpes

Virus (EEHV)

Wildlife Reserves Singapore

• Over 1000 species of animals

• > 20% classified as threatened according to IUCN Red List

WRS (Mandai) In The Future

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Rainforest Park North (2021)

Bird Park (2020)

Eco Accommodation (2023)

Nature-themed Indoor

Attraction (2023)

Forest Gateway Arrival Plaza

(2020)

Forest Courtyard

Arrival Plaza (2023)

Rainforest Park South (2021)

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Singapore Zoo

River SafariNight Safari

Upper Seletar Reservoir

Central Catchment Nature Reserve (CCNR)

Eco-Link Bridge (2019)

Central Catchment Nature Reserve

(CCNR)

Total Development Area 63.94 ha

Overall Total Area (inclusive of Existing NS, RS, Zoo and BOH)

126.23 ha

Total ~ 100 hectares

34 ha

26 ha

10 ha

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Fatal infections with EEHV are now being diagnosed

with increasing frequency in both managed and wild

elephant populations in Asia

Urgent need:

• to raise more awareness and inform regional

stakeholders about currently available knowledge

and best practice

• to better coordinate research in a critical region

EEHV in ASIA

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• To develop a region-specific strategy including short-term and long-

term goals for research, disease and funding

• To promote collaboration and coordination by creating a supportive

EEHV network to efficiently manage EEHV in Asia.

2015: Formation of EEHV ASIA

Working Group• Linking up international experts to

build up regional capacity and

provide a comprehensive update on

the EEHV

• Develop guidelines for the

management of EEHV-HD in Asia

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East meets West

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• As one of the results from

the 1st Asia EEHV

meeting in 2015 a

brochure was produced to

improve the

understanding and help

guide the management of

EEHV-HD in Asia

• 2nd improved edition in

2017

EEHV in Asia Brochure:

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• As of Nov. 2016 over 80 cases of EEHV have been

confirmed within 7 of the 13 Asian elephant range countries

Nov 2016: 2nd Asian EEHV Working

Group Meeting in Singapore

• Majority detected in India (26)

and Thailand (33)

• 12 of the deaths identified in

wild elephants (India)

• So far we know of 6 Asian

EEHV-HD cases in which the

elephant survived

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Nov 2017: 3rd EEHV Asia Working Group Meeting

in Thailand

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• Evaluation of EEHV Epidemiology and

Risk Factors

• Establishment of cPCR and qPCR EEHV

Laboratories

• Surveillance of wild elephants for EEHV

Priorities for EEHV in ASIA

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Thank you for your attention!