A mysterious virus outbreak has killed 72 tigers at Thailand’s Tiger Kingdom in Chiang Mai, forcing a shutdown as authorities investigate conflicting lab results and quarantine the remaining big cats.
WEBDESK – MediaBites News
A mysterious and deadly virus outbreak has killed 72 tigers within weeks at the popular Tiger Kingdom tourist attraction in northern Thailand, forcing authorities to temporarily shut down the facility.
The deaths began around Feb. 8 at the Mae Rim park in Chiang Mai province, with dozens of big cats reportedly dying in rapid succession. By Feb. 18, the toll had risen to 72, prompting urgent inspections by the Chiang Mai Provincial Livestock Office.
Officials conducted a site-wide disinfection and sent carcass and feed samples to Chiang Mai University for laboratory analysis.
Conflicting findings on cause
Initial autopsy reports indicated feline parvovirus — a highly contagious disease that attacks the intestinal lining and immune system — as the likely culprit. However, subsequent lab results submitted to Thailand’s Department of Livestock Development detected canine distemper virus (CDV), a respiratory illness typically associated with dogs but capable of infecting big cats.
Veterinarians also identified Mycoplasma bacteria as a secondary infection in some animals.
Authorities stressed that none of the detected infections are transmissible to humans.
National livestock department director Somchuan Ratanamungklanon said early symptoms in tigers can be difficult to detect. “By the time we realised they were sick, it was already too late,” he told local media.
Inbreeding concerns raised
The Bangkok Post reported that inbreeding may have weakened the tigers’ immune systems, increasing their vulnerability to infection.
About 246 tigers are housed across Tiger Kingdom’s facilities in Mae Rim and Mae Taeng districts. The remaining animals have been relocated to a nursing centre in Mae Taeng for quarantine and monitoring.
Tiger Kingdom, known for allowing visitors to hug, touch and take close-up photos with tigers, has been closed for two weeks.
Animal rights group PETA Asia criticized the facility following the deaths, saying the animals “died the way they lived — in misery, confinement and fear,” and urged Thai authorities to shut down similar operations permanently.
Officials said investigations are ongoing to determine the exact source of the outbreak.
