Herpes virus has evolved for many different host species, the same as other viruses do, papilloma virus comes to mind. So Elephants herpes exists the same way human herpes does.

from the article

Q: How does the virus spread among elephants?
A: It appears that the virus jumps species. That is, African elephants seem to be carriers of the virus that kills Asian elephants, and vice versa. In the wild, the virus is latent in its respective species, causing no more harm than a benign wart. It's only when the virus crosses species -- from African into Asian elephants or vice versa -- that it becomes deadly. Because African and Asian elephants never have contact in the wild, the deadly effects of the virus were not seen until the two species began to mingle, like in zoos.

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