Current:Home > ScamsLouisville Zoo elephant calf named Fitz dies at age 3 following virus-LoTradeCoin
Louisville Zoo elephant calf named Fitz dies at age 3 following virus
View Date:2025-01-15 00:12:10
A beloved 3-year-old elephant calf born and raised at the Louisville Zoo died on Friday night, the zoo said in a news release.
Fitz would have turned four on Aug. 2, 2023, the zoo said, and was the offspring of 37-year-old Mikki, who also lives at the Kentucky-based Louisville Zoo.
Zoo staff first noticed that Fitz was lethargic on June 25. A blood sample was sent out and he was diagnosed with endotheliotropic herpesvirus, more commonly known as EEHV, a "hemorrhagic disease that aggressively affects blood cells," the zoo said. There is no vaccine for the virus, and the survival rate is only 20 to 30% in most cases, the zoo said.
Fitz's diagnosis with the illness was confirmed on June 28, and he was treated around-the-clock with care, including antiviral medications, plasma transfusions multiple times a day, and supportive therapies. Fitz received plasma and blood donations from elephants in zoos across the country, and other zoos and elephant experts reached out to the Louisville Zoo to offer support and advice.
Fitz's condition took a turn for the worse on Friday evening, the zoo said, and he passed away shortly after 11 p.m. after a nighttime treatment.
"We are deeply saddened by the loss of elephant Fitz," said Louisville Zoo Director Dan Maloney in a statement. "Fitz held a special place within our entire extended Zoo family. His presence at our Zoo touched the hearts of our members, patrons and our entire community, inspiring a profound appreciation for elephants and their conservation. Our animal and medical teams performed outstandingly. They worked tirelessly under very challenging circumstances, but sadly, despite their remarkable efforts, we were unable to save him. Fitz's impact will live on, along with his memory, in the hearts of all who encountered him. He will be deeply missed."
A necropsy will be performed, the zoo said. Additional information will be released once it is complete.
The zoo will also share information about plans for the community to honor Fitz.
According to the zoo, EEHV is "one of the most serious medical issues facing zoo and wild elephants." Most elephants are believed to be born with the virus or exposed to it shortly after birth, but it can remain in an elephant's body for years. The zoo said that it is "unknown" what causes the virus to cause hemorrhagic disease.
The zoo said that Mikki is also confirmed to have a "latent form" of EEHV, but "it is not the same strain that affected" her son. She appears to be behaving normally, the zoo said, as is the institution's other elephant, Punch. Zoo staff will continue to monitor them, the news release said.
- In:
- Louisville
- Elephant
- Kentucky
Kerry Breen is a news editor and reporter for CBS News. Her reporting focuses on current events, breaking news and substance use.
veryGood! (783)
Related
- Mother of Man Found Dead in Tanning Bed at Planet Fitness Gym Details His Final Moments
- Powerball winning numbers for Feb. 28 drawing: Jackpot rises to over $410 million
- Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani says he is married and his bride is Japanese
- Some left helpless to watch as largest wildfire in Texas history devastates their town
- Only 8 monkeys remain free after more than a week outside a South Carolina compound
- 'Hairy Bikers' TV chef Dave Myers dies at 66 from cancer, co-host Si King reveals
- Kings of Leon talk upcoming tour and album, 'Sex on Fire' rise to fame: 'We got shots'
- Doctors in South Korea walk out in strike of work conditions
- Rita Ora Says Liam Payne “Left Such a Mark on This World” in Emotional Tribute
- Man already serving life sentence convicted in murder of Tucson girl who vanished from parents’ home
Ranking
- Dozens indicted over NYC gang warfare that led to the deaths of four bystanders
- Clark’s final regular-season home game at Iowa comes with an average ticket prices of $577
- Missouri is suing Planned Parenthood based on a conservative group’s sting video
- When is the next total solar eclipse in the US after 2024? Here's what you need to know.
- BITFII Introduce
- FBI raids home owned by top aide to New York City Mayor Eric Adams
- Rhys Hoskins – Brewers' new slugger – never got Philly goodbye after 'heartbreaking' injury
- Fan-Fave Travel Brand CALPAK Just Launched Its First-Ever Baby Collection, & We're Obsessed
Recommendation
-
See Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani's Winning NFL Outing With Kids Zuma and Apollo
-
Kelly Osbourne fought with Sid WIlson about son's last name: 'I can never, ever forgive him'
-
Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani Reveals He Privately Got Married
-
Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani announces he is married
-
Full House's John Stamos Shares Message to Costar Dave Coulier Amid Cancer Battle
-
Georgia women’s prison inmate files lawsuit accusing guard of brutal sexual assault
-
A soldier turns himself in shortly after 4 people are killed in shootings in Germany
-
Short-lived tornado hit NW Indiana during this week’s Midwest tornado outbreak, weather service says