An 8-year-old Asian elephant at Sydney's Taronga Zoo has died after a sudden onset of herpes.
In a statement released on Tuesday, the zoo said the elephant named Tukta started showing symptoms of elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus disease (EEHV) on Monday and passed away later that day.
"Our veterinary and keeping teams worked very hard to save her. Although she fought bravely, her condition rapidly declined and she passed later in the afternoon," the statement said.
The zoo said that EEHV is "present in almost all Asian elephants both in the wild and in zoos, but only causes illness in some young elephants and when it does is almost always fatal".
Tukta receives a clean at Taronga Zoo in 2010. Source: AAP
Tukta was the third calf born as part of the zoo's regional breeding program for this endangered species.
"Everyone found joy watching her experience life as a first-time big sister when her little brother Jai Dee was born, protecting him and caring for him. No doubt our Taronga herd will be mourning her loss for several days," the statement said.
Tukta (left) plays with other elephants at Taronga Zoo in 2011. Source: AAP
Director and CEO of the zoo Cameron Kerr said, "our hearts are broken by Tukta's sudden and unexpected loss".
"She was a much-loved member of Taronga's elephant herd," he said.
The Asian elephant is that continent's largest terrestrial mammal.
Tukta cools down in a 2016 heatwave. Source: Getty
They are endangered as a result of deforestation for logging, palm oil plantations and agriculture, illegal wildlife trade and human-elephant conflict.
