Night Safari's baby elephant Neha gets health check by a keeper ahead of her first birthday, in Singapore, on May 11, 2017. (Xinhua/Then Chih Wey)
SINGAPORE, May 11 (Xinhua) -- Baby Asian elephant Neha at Singapore's Night Safari have an early celebration on Thursday on the eve of her first birthday.
The calf weighs 527 kg and can respond to about 10 instructions, according to Wildlife Reserves Singapore (WRS).
WRS said young elephants between one to eight years old are at high risk of contracting Elephant Endotheliotropic Herpesvirus.
"Currently there is no vaccination available, and medication only serves to suppress the growth of the virus. Death frequently occurs within one to two days of the first visible signs, and early diagnosis and treatment are critical to survival," WRS said.
The International Union for the Conservation of Nature has listed Asian elephants as endangered and threatened species.
