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Asian Elephants

All articles tagged with #asian elephants

wildlife-conservation1 year ago

First mRNA Vaccine Administered to Elephant to Combat Deadly Herpes Virus

An Asian elephant at Houston Zoo has received the first mRNA vaccine against the deadly elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus (EEHV), which is a leading cause of death among young Asian elephants in captivity. Developed by Dr. Paul Ling at Baylor College of Medicine, the vaccine aims to boost immunity in young elephants, similar to how Covid-19 vaccines work in humans. The trial vaccine was administered to Tess, a 40-year-old elephant, following a series of juvenile deaths in zoos worldwide. Researchers are monitoring Tess's health and plan to vaccinate more elephants if no side effects are observed.

via The Guardian|
#asian-elephants#herpes-virus#houston-zoo
science-and-technology1 year ago

"Reviving the Woolly Mammoth: Breakthroughs and Risks"

Colossal Biosciences is working on bringing back the woolly mammoth by gene-editing Asian elephants to give them mammoth-like features. They have made a breakthrough by reprogramming elephant cells into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), which could lead to creating elephant sperm and egg cells in the lab. This would help in testing gene edits and addressing the limited genetic diversity issue. However, the ecological benefits of de-extinction are still debated, and the technical challenges of creating elephant-mammoth hybrids lie ahead for the scientists at Colossal.

via WIRED|
#asian-elephants#conservation#de-extinction
environment2 years ago

Scientists report 64% loss of suitable habitat for Asian elephants.

Asian elephants have lost 64% of their suitable habitat across the continent since the year 1700, according to a new study. The loss of habitat is due to colonial-era land use practices and agricultural intensification. Asian elephants are important for their ecosystems and are listed as endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature's Red List of Threatened Species. The loss of habitat has resulted in an increase of elephant-human conflict.

via ABC News|
#asian-elephants#conservation#ecosystem