72 tigers died at Thai tourist area

Thai authorities are urgently controlling a serious disease outbreak that has killed at least 72 captive tigers in wildlife parks in Chiang Mai province.

Initial test results showed that the individuals were infected with feline parvovirus or feline panleukopenia, Bangkok Post reported.

The majority of tiger deaths were recorded at two private parks, Tiger Kingdom Mae Taeng and Tiger Kingdom Mae Rim – locations that allow visitors to come into close contact with tigers. According to a report by the Regional Conservation Area Office, from February 8 to 19, 51 tigers died in Mae Taeng and 21 in Mae Rim.

The Chiang Mai Provincial Veterinary Authority said autopsy results showed the presence of the parvo virus. In addition, the test samples also detected the virus that causes Care disease (canine distemper virus – CDV) and Mycoplasma bacteria. No traces of influenza A virus – the causative agent of bird flu – were detected.

Feline parvovirus is a dangerous, rapidly spreading and often fatal infectious disease that strongly attacks the digestive and immune systems. The disease causes vomiting, bloody diarrhea, high fever, fatigue and loss of appetite.

Meanwhile, the Care virus is transmitted through close contact, affecting the lungs, stomach and sometimes the brain, and can cause death in large cats. Mycoplasma bacteria cause respiratory infections, aggravating pneumonia and respiratory failure, especially in individuals with weakened immune systems.

Director General of Thailand’s Department of Livestock Development, Somchuan Ratanamungklanon, said treating tigers is much more complicated than domestic dogs and cats.

“Dogs and cats live close to humans, so when they have symptoms they can be detected and treated promptly. Tigers are not like that,” he said, adding that when he recognizes unusual signs, the disease may have progressed seriously.

The agency also believes that inbreeding in captive tiger populations can weaken their immune systems, making them more susceptible to disease and spreading the epidemic faster.

Veterinarian Wisit Arsaithamkul, who participated in handling the case, said the first deaths were examined within 1-2 days after the onset of symptoms but no serious damage was detected. At that time, possibilities include viral, bacterial infection or poisoning.

However, the fact that tigers at two locations showed similar symptoms makes the food source a suspect factor. According to him, out of more than 200 tigers using this food source, almost all showed signs of illness, except for 3 individuals who were still breastfeeding.

Officials temporarily closed Tiger Kingdom Mae Rim for 14 days, restricted access to two facilities, and disinfected cages and equipment. All remaining tigers were transferred to the quarantine and care area in Mae Taeng district for close monitoring. Authorities also plan to vaccinate healthy individuals to prevent the epidemic from spreading.

Mr. Somchuan affirmed that strict biosecurity and disinfection measures are being applied, and said that the Care virus is not transmitted to humans.

Animal protection organization PETA Asia said the tigers “died in pain, confinement and fear”, and called on tourists to boycott business models that allow close contact with wild animals.

Thailand has recorded serious outbreaks in captive tigers. In 2004, during the H5N1 bird flu outbreak, at least 147 tigers at Sriracha Tiger Zoo (Chonburi province) died or were destroyed to prevent the spread of the epidemic. In 2024, dozens of captive tigers in Vietnam also died after being infected with H5N1 in private zoos and safari areas.