The faculty of Veterinary Science, Assam Agricultural University, Khanapara will host the fourth Asia Working Group Meeting and international seminar on Elephant Endotheliotropic Herpes Virus (EEHV) from November 28 to 30 next.
The north-eastern region is one of the last bastions of the Asian elephants with around eight to nine thousand individuals.
It is around one third of the country’s elephant population and one tenth of the world’s Asian elephant population.
However, various problems have been causing large scale death and damage of this population.
Out of these HEC related deaths, electrocution and train hits are notable which are outcome of habitat destruction and fragmentation.
While these issues are widely discussed and addressed another killer disease affecting the species is emerging in the region in particular and the entire world in general.
Elephant Endotheliotropic Herpes Virus (EEHV) is affecting young calves from two to eight years of age.
The issue is a global one and therefore, an ‘EEHV Asia Working Group’ has been formed.
It sat twice in Singapore Zoo and once in Hua-Hin Veterinary Hospital in Thailand.
Considering the importance of India in the survival of Asian elephants, the third working group meeting held at Hua-Hin decided India as the venue for the next meeting.
It entrusted the Faculty of Veterinary Science, Assam Agricultural University, Khanapara to organize the same.
The working group meeting basically takes stock of the disease and progresses made by scientists of different countries in its diagnosis and management, sharing of knowledge and experiences.
Another purpose of the meeting is to enlighten India’s elephant vets about the latest developments regarding EEHV, in respect to its clinical signs, diagnosis tools and up-to-date treatment protocol.
The three day meet will begin with lectures on up-to-date knowledge and latest findings of EEHV by world’s best experts, followed by country updates and presentations on progresses in research on various aspects of the disease.
On third day, the participants will be taken to a wildlife park for demonstration of medical procedures in relation to treatment of EEHV.