A severe outbreak involving both a virus and bacterial infection has led to the deaths of more than 70 tigers at a privately owned wildlife attraction in northern Thailand, officials confirmed.
Authorities from the provincial livestock office in Chiang Mai announced on 20 Feb that laboratory tests identified canine distemper virus (CDV), a highly contagious pathogen, along with respiratory-related bacteria, as the cause of the fatalities, reports The Star.
National livestock department director Somchuan Ratanamungklanon explained that the animals’ natural behaviour delayed detection of illness. “When tigers fall ill, it is more difficult to detect than in animals like cats or dogs. By the time we realised they were sick, it was already too late,” he told local media.
The deaths occurred at Tiger Kingdom, which operates facilities in the Mae Rim and Mae Taeng districts. Attempts to reach the park for comment on 21 Feb were unsuccessful. The attraction promotes close-contact experiences, including opportunities for visitors to touch and photograph the animals.
Officials reported that since early February, an unusually high number of tiger deaths had been recorded at both sites. According to figures cited by Thai news outlet The Nation, 21 tigers died at the Mae Rim location between 8 Feb and 19 Feb, while 51 deaths were recorded at the Mae Taeng facility.
In response, the Mae Rim site announced it would shut down operations for 14 days. Veterinary teams from the Chiang Mai Provincial Livestock Office were dispatched to the Mae Rim park to conduct inspections.
Samples taken from carcasses and animal feed were sent to the faculty of veterinary medicine at Chiang Mai University for further testing. Surviving tigers were transferred to a nursing and quarantine centre in Mae Taeng for monitoring and treatment.
Initial lab findings ruled out influenza A, confirming no trace of the virus. However, tests showed that the tigers were infected with CDV, which primarily affects canines but can also infect large felines, as well as Mycoplasma species bacteria linked to respiratory illness.
Officials said the combination of these infections likely caused severe pneumonia and related complications, resulting in the high death toll.
CDV is known to impact the lungs and digestive system and can, in advanced cases, affect the nervous system. Authorities emphasised that the virus does not pose a risk to humans, as it is not transmissible to people.
Somchuan said immediate containment measures were put in place, including disinfecting enclosures, separating sick animals, and preparing vaccinations for the remaining tigers to prevent further spread.
Investigators also pointed to possible inbreeding within captive populations as a contributing factor, noting that reduced genetic diversity can weaken immune responses. Additionally, the tendency of tigers to conceal illness meant symptoms may only have become apparent once the disease had reached an advanced stage.
Disinfection efforts are ongoing at both locations, and officials continue to closely observe the tigers still receiving care. Members of the public have been asked to promptly notify livestock authorities if they observe unusual illness or deaths among animals so that intervention can occur quickly.
Animal rights group PETA Asia criticised the conditions under which the tigers were kept. “These tigers died the way they lived – in misery, confinement and fear,” the organisation said in a statement to AFP.
“If tourists stayed away, these places would quickly become unprofitable, and tragedies like this would be far less likely to happen,” the group added.
