EEHV Virus Threat, Indonesia Tightens Monitoring of Sumatran Elephants

RRI.CO.ID, Banda Aceh - Indonesia has tightened the protection and monitoring of Sumatran elephants following the sudden death of a baby elephant at the Elephant Training Center (PLG) Saree, Aceh. This step was taken to anticipate the potential spread of Elephant Endotheliotropic Herpesvirus (EEHV), a deadly virus that is prone to attacking young elephants.

A female baby elephant named Yuna, under three years old, died on Tuesday night, August 11, 2026, after experiencing a drastic decline in health. However, until Tuesday afternoon, Yuna was still observed to be active and behaving normally.

The Head of the Aceh Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA), Ujang Wisnu Barata, said the initial diagnosis indicated that Yuna's condition was strongly suspected to be triggered by an EEHV attack. The medical team has conducted a necropsy and taken organ samples for laboratory examination to determine the cause of death.

"Yuna's condition dropped very quickly, which, based on the initial diagnosis, was triggered by an attack of a deadly virus for baby elephants. Macroscopically, the symptoms are seen from facial swelling, red eyes, and bluish tongue mucosa," Ujang said, Wednesday, August 12 2026.

According to the Aceh BKSDA, Yuna's health was previously monitored regularly every day and underwent periodic examinations. The results of the last medical examination in June 2026 showed that Yuna was in good health with a Body Condition Index Score (BCIS) of 5.5, which is within the ideal range for domesticated elephants.

EEHV is a herpes virus that can infect elephants, especially young elephants. The virus attacks the inner layer of blood vessels and can cause bleeding and organ damage, so the condition of the elephants can deteriorate rapidly and result in fatal consequences.

As a precautionary measure, the Aceh BKSDA is now tightening monitoring and conducting early detection on other juvenile elephants. Inspections are primarily carried out on elephants under the age of 14, including Gerry, Yuyun, and Dilan.

"We immediately conducted medical tests and early detection on other juvenile elephants under 14 years old, specifically Gerry, Yuyun, and Dilan, to anticipate and minimize the potential spread of the virus," he said.

These efforts are part of the Aceh BKSDA's steps to strengthen the protection of Sumatran elephants, while also ensuring that the health of the monitored elephant population remains under surveillance and the potential threat of disease can be detected as early as possible.