Thiruvananthapuram: An elephant calf died of viral infection at the Elephant Rehabilitation Centre at Kappukadu in Kottoor here. The male calf named Arjun died of herpes. Arjun is the second elephant calf dying at the centre. Last week, a female calf named Sreekutty had died.

Arjun was only 6 years old. He was undergoing treatment for herpes. Two other calves named Kannan and Amina also are in critical condition due to the viral infection at the rehabilitation centre.

The forest department has initiated action with the death of two elephant calves die at the elephant rehabilitation centre. A special team of doctors has been formed to prevent herpes infection among elephant calves. Also they have taken precautionary measures to stop the virus from spreading to other elephants.

The one-and-a-half-year-old calf Sreekutty which used to attract attention of the tourists, died on Monday. The forest officials found it from Aryankavu when the calf was just one month old. It had difficulty in walking and was taken to the rehabilitation centre.