Authorities in Chiang Mai, northern Thailand, are investigating the deaths of dozens of tigers at Tiger Kingdom, a popular tourist park where visitors can interact with the animals.
72 tigers died in less than two weeks across two facilities at the park. The provincial livestock office confirmed that samples from the animals tested positive for canine distemper virus, a highly contagious disease affecting the respiratory, gastrointestinal and nervous systems. Officials have not determined how the outbreak started.
«By the time we realised they were sick, it was already too late,» said Somchuan Ratanamungklanon, director of the national livestock department, adding that illness is harder to detect in tigers than in domestic pets.
The tigers’ remains have been cremated or buried. There were more than 240 tigers living across the two Tiger Kingdom facilities. Preliminary tests had also suggested feline parvovirus, and some officials initially suspected contaminated raw chicken meat as a potential source, echoing a similar outbreak in Chonburi province in 2004 that killed nearly 150 tigers.
Authorities confirmed that no staff members contracted the virus, though veterinarians and workers are being monitored for 21 days.
Animal rights groups criticised the conditions of captive tigers used for entertainment. Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand said the deaths highlighted the «extreme vulnerability of captive wildlife facilities to infectious disease.» Peta Asia urged tourists to avoid such attractions, saying it would make tragedies like this less likely.
Tiger Kingdom Chiang Mai has been closed for two weeks for disinfection and safety measures.
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