Shankar, a 29-year-old African bull elephant at the National Zoological Park, New Delhi, recently died due to the Encephalomyocarditis Virus (EMCV) — a rare, rodent-borne viral infection that primarily affects pigs and other mammals.

About Encephalomyocarditis Virus (EMCV):

• • Classification: Genus – Cardiovirus; Family – Picornaviridae
  • Nature: A non-enveloped, single-stranded positive-sense RNA virus that infects a wide range of mammals including pigs, elephants, rodents, primates, and some carnivores.
  • Reservoir Hosts: Rodents, especially rats and squirrels, which shed the virus through urine and feces.
  • Transmission: Occurs when animals ingest contaminated food or water.
  • Pathology: The virus causes inflammation of the brain (encephalitis) and heart muscles (myocarditis), leading to sudden or peracute death.

Why is this Case Significant?

• • This is India’s first confirmed case of EMCV in an elephant, though similar outbreaks have occurred in European and Australian zoos.
  • It underscores the vulnerability of captive wild animals to rodent-borne diseases.
  • The event also highlights biosecurity gaps in Indian zoos — particularly in rodent control and enclosure management.

Conclusion:

The death of Shankar due to EMCV marks a rare and alarming event in India’s wildlife health landscape. It underscores the urgent need for:

• • Integrated zoo biosecurity protocols,
  • Rodent population control,
  • Routine health surveillance, and
  • Collaborative research into emerging zoonotic pathogens.

This case serves as a wake-up call for wildlife managers and policymakers to adopt a preventive, scientific, and humane approach to managing captive wild animals — aligning with India’s commitments to biodiversity conservation and the One Health framework.