Elephant calf holds still for experimental vaccine while taking fruit treats
子ゾウ、果物を受け取りながら実験段階のワクチン接種中に姿勢を保つほっこり
- Country:
- 🇦🇺 Australia
- Voice:
- 🇬🇧 Sophie
英語本文
Roi-Yim, a male Asian elephant calf at Werribee Open Range Zoo in Australia, held his position while receiving an experimental vaccine against elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus, or EEHV. He grabbed fruit treats with his trunk during the injection. His mother, Mali, stayed within view while veterinarian Natalie Rourke gave him the vaccine.
The zoo participates in an EEHV vaccine trial, but the vaccine’s effectiveness has not been established, according to veterinary scientist Tabitha Hoornweg of Utrecht University. Roi-Yim leaned against his enclosure, leaving a hind leg accessible. Keepers cleaned the injection site and used a whistle as a reward signal. Afterwards, he returned with Mali to the zoo’s savanna habitat.
The zoo’s three elephant calves also learn to provide trunk washes for weekly health tests. Keeper Lucy Truelson says fruit rewards help train them to raise their trunks after receiving saline, hold them up for 20 seconds, and blow the wash into a plastic sample bag. Keepers occasionally get splashed with the liquid.