August 13, 2026 | 03:08 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – The death of Yuna, a female Sumatran elephant calf at the Saree Elephant Training Center in Aceh, has raised concerns over Elephant Endotheliotropic Herpesvirus (EEHV), a potentially fatal virus that primarily threatens young elephants.
Yuna, who was less than three years old, died on Tuesday night, August 11, 2026, just one day before World Elephant Day. She was born to a female elephant named Suci.
Her condition deteriorated rapidly. Yuna was still active on Tuesday morning and afternoon, but at around 4 p.m., her mahout found her weak, with swollen and reddened eyes, a swollen face and a pale bluish tongue.
Veterinarians from the Aceh Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA), assisted by mahouts, administered intravenous fluids and multivitamins. However, her condition continued to worsen and she died at 8:48 p.m.
A necropsy was conducted immediately, followed by her burial, which was completed at around 12:30 a.m. Wednesday.
What Is EEHV?
EEHV is a group of herpesviruses that specifically infect elephants. It can cause a severe and often rapidly fatal disease, particularly in young elephants.
The virus attacks endothelial cells, which form the inner lining of blood vessels. This can cause blood and fluid to leak into surrounding tissues and organs, potentially leading to internal bleeding, organ damage, shock and sudden death.
In severe cases, an infected elephant can die within 24 to 48 hours after clinical signs appear, with mortality rates reported to be as high as 80 percent.
EEHV can spread through secretions from an elephant’s trunk, saliva and feces.
Yuna's Sudden Decline
Yuna had been under routine daily health monitoring, with general medical examinations conducted every three months. Her most recent examination in June found her to be healthy, with a Body Condition Index Score of 5.5, within the ideal range of 5 to 7 for captive elephants.
No signs of illness or physical deterioration were detected during the two days before her death.
“All elephants under the care of BKSDA Aceh at the Saree Elephant Training Center, the Peusangan Conservation Response Unit and the Trumon Conservation Response Unit receive daily health checks and regular general check-ups,” BKSDA Aceh head Ujang Wisnu Barata said in a written statement on Wednesday, August 12.
Based on the initial diagnosis, Yuna’s rapid deterioration was suspected to have been triggered by a fatal viral infection affecting young elephants. Visible signs included facial swelling, red eyes and bluish tongue tissue, while microscopic examination showed hemorrhaging in the digestive organs.
“To confirm the exact cause of Yuna’s death, we have collected organ samples for further laboratory testing,” Ujang said.
The suspected EEHV infection has yet to be confirmed by laboratory testing.
Aceh Steps Up Monitoring
The suspected infection has prompted BKSDA Aceh to increase surveillance and early detection efforts among other young elephants.
“We immediately conducted medical tests and early detection efforts on other elephant calves under 14 years old, particularly Gerry, Yuyun and Dilan, to anticipate and minimize the potential spread of the virus,” Ujang said.
EEHV has previously been linked to elephant deaths in Indonesia. In 2021, a four-year-old elephant named Intan died at the Trumon Conservation Response Unit in South Aceh following an EEHV infection.
A similar case occurred in Riau late last year, when a young elephant named Laila died. Laboratory tests confirmed the infection nearly a month after her death on November 22.
Because EEHV can progress rapidly, early detection and close monitoring are considered crucial in protecting young elephant populations.
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