More than 70 tigers die in two weeks at Thai tourist park
More than 70 tigers die in two weeks at Thai tourist park
Lily ShanagherTue, February 24, 2026 at 4:25 PM UTC
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An outbreak of the highly contagious canine distemper virus is thought to have occurred after the animals were fed contaminated meat - Tiger Kingdom sanctuary in Chiang Mai via AP
Seventy-two tigers have died at a tourist park in Thailand in less than two weeks.
The animals died at two facilities operated by Tiger Kingdom, in the northern city of Chiang Mai. Visitors to the park are allowed to touch and interact with the big cats.
Samples taken from the tigers showed signs of canine distemper virus, a highly contagious disease that attacks the respiratory, gastrointestinal and nervous systems, the local livestock department said.
The virus is normally found among dogs but can also infect big cats. It is not known to affect humans.
The carcasses also tested positive for a bacteria associated with respiratory disease, and some for feline parvovirus. The livestock department said it was expediting post-mortem examinations and would conduct an investigation into the deaths.
On Tuesday, officials said the virus was no longer spreading and no more tigers were dying, but the remaining gravely ill animals were recommended to be euthanised.
A veterinarian said nearly all the tigers across the park fell ill - Yvette Cardozo / Alamy Stock Photo
A veterinarian said nearly all the tigers across the park fell ill, but it is unclear how many will be culled.
At a news conference in Bangkok, Pattana Promphat, the public health minister, said no humans had been infected.
“If we detect any sick persons, we will prepare for a nationwide monitoring measure,” said Monthien Khanasawat, the director-general of the public health ministry’s disease control department.
More than 240 tigers are kept at the park. The animals appeared to have been infected and become sick rapidly, with officials initially suspecting that the outbreak came from contaminated raw chicken used to feed them.
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“By the time we realised they were sick, it was already too late,” Somchuan Ratanamungklanon, the director of the national livestock department, previously told local media.
He said it was harder to detect sickness in tigers than animals such as common household cats or dogs.
Veterinarians or park staff working in the tiger enclosures were placed under observation for 21 days, but none had so far shown signs of illness, Thai PBS reported.
The deaths have prompted condemnation from animal rights groups over the treatment of captive tigers used as tourist attractions in Thailand.
‘Prioritise profit over animal welfare’
“Currently, Thailand has approximately 1,500 captive tigers in over 60 locations. Many of these tigers are kept in deplorable conditions, bred for tourism, and it is believed that some may enter the illegal wildlife trade,” Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand said in a statement.
“These venues prioritise entertainment and profit over animal welfare and conservation and this outbreak highlights the devastating consequences.”
Dr Jan Schmidt-Burback, the director of wildlife research and veterinary expertise at World Animal Protection, said she had visited the facility on a number of occasions.
She said: “This case is a tragic reminder that tigers do not belong in captivity. The smallest issue can quickly endanger many animals, and the poor welfare conditions they face exacerbate disease outbreaks.
“The inadequate conditions for tigers at Tiger Kingdom, the high frequency of breeding them for commercial gain, and the proven failure to protect the tigers from disease outbreaks should be a wake-up call for the Thai government to take steps to ensure this is the last generation of tigers exploited for captivity.
“The facilities have zero benefit for conserving wild tigers, provide no educational benefit, and, apart from causing immense suffering to tigers, put staff and visitors at risk of injury and disease.”
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Source: “AOL Breaking”
