Jakarta, Dec. 23 -- Indonesia's Ministry of Forestry is collaborating with India-based Vantara Conservation Center to prevent deaths among Sumatran elephants (Elephas maximus sumatranus) caused by Elephant Endotheliotropic Herpesvirus (EEHV).

In a statement received in Jakarta on Monday (December 22), Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni said the government would give special attention to EEHV prevention following the death of a young elephant named Laila at the Sebanga Elephant Conservation Center in Bengkalis, Riau, due to EEHV infection.

To prevent similar incidents, Antoni said he had requested assistance from Fauna Land Indonesia to bring in elephant veterinarians from Vantara in India.

Vantara is a large-scale wildlife rescue, reha...