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Albuquerque Zoo In Mourning After Elephant Dies

cabq.gov

The Albuquerque BioPark has lost a member of its Asian elephant herd.

Zookeepers say 5-year-old Daizy died Saturday afternoon after collapsing from symptoms related to elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus.

The virus is highly fatal when transmitted to young Asian elephants.

They say she first exhibited symptoms Wednesday. A blood sample taken to a University of New Mexico laboratory tested positive for the virus.

Zoo caretakers say antiviral medication was administered immediately but the female elephant succumbed anyway.

Zoo officials say the rest of the herd is not in danger. However, they are closely monitoring Jazmine, a 19-month-old female calf.

Daizy was born at the zoo in September 2009.

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