Guest guest Posted July 18, 2002 Report Share Posted July 18, 2002 First test-tube elephant dies July 18, 2002 THE first Asian elephant conceived through artificial insemination has died at a US zoo after a viral infection caused its tongue to turn purple and its head to swell. The nearly three-year-old calf, named Haji, had been in failing health at the Dickerson Park Zoo in Springfield, Missouri, since Saturday. Blood tests confirmed Haji had endothelial inclusion body disease, which is generally fatal within five days. The disease is caused by a virus specific to elephants. The zoo had been treating Haji with an experimental regimen of antiviral medication, antibiotics and other drugs. The same treatment was successfully used in 1997 to treat another elephant at the zoo. " Yesterday was Day 4, which we knew was a critical point. Instead of seeing improvement, he took a turn for the worse, " said Doug Hardy, a veterinarian at the zoo. " There is nothing we could have done. " Haji was born in 1999 after years of research on the elephant reproductive system and failed attempts at artificial insemination. Sperm was taken from Big Mac, an Asian elephant that sired 12 calves before dying in May. Haji's mother, Moola, remains at the zoo. AAP Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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