Dozens of captive tigers in northern Thailand have died from a suspected virus, with officials scrambling to contain the outbreak. The tigers, located in the Chiang Mai region, began showing signs of illness earlier this month.
The exact cause of death remains unclear. The government's region 5 livestock office for Chiang Mai reported that the animals were infected with canine distemper virus, with mycoplasma bacteria as a secondary infection. However, Somchuan Ratanamungklanon, director general of the department of livestock development, told local media that the tigers may have been infected with feline panleukopenia.
“Treating sick tigers is very different from treating dogs and cats,” Mr Ratanamungklanon said. “By the time we notice that something is wrong, the illness may already be advanced.”
The outbreak has affected two districts in Chiang Mai: Mae Rim and Mae Taeng. Dozens of tigers first showed symptoms on 8 February. Tiger Kingdom Chiang Mai, a popular tourist attraction where visitors can interact with the animals, has been temporarily closed since the deaths.
Kritsayarm Kongsatri, director of the wildlife conservation office in Chiang Mai, described the number of deaths as “very unusual”. The incident echoes previous outbreaks, including 47 tiger deaths in Vietnam in 2024 linked to bird flu, and 147 tiger deaths at a zoo in eastern Thailand in 2004 due to contaminated chicken carcasses.
