At least 72 tigers, nearly 30 per cent of the population, have died from a canine distemper outbreak at Tiger Kingdom Chiang Mai, forcing the popular tourist attraction to shut down for two weeks.
The deaths occurred between February 8 and 19, prompting a 14-day closure to allow for disinfection of the premises and emergency vaccinations of surviving animals, according to a report by AFP.
Thailand’s Livestock Development Department confirmed canine distemper virus, CDV, as the cause following laboratory tests and autopsies, ruling out initial fears of avian influenza.
The highly contagious virus, commonly carried by domestic dogs, attacks the respiratory, digestive and nervous systems of affected animals and is often fatal.
Officials said bacterial co-infections worsened the outbreak, but no bird flu was detected.
Public Health Minister Pattana Promphat assured the public there is no risk of transmission to humans, although staff and close contacts are being monitored as a precaution.
Authorities are still investigating the source of the infection.
Veterinarian Visit Arsaithamkul, who conducted the post-mortems, suggested shared food supplies between nearby parks may have acted as a transmission route. He noted that enclosed habitats, stress and inbreeding can weaken immunity in captive populations, making them more vulnerable to outbreaks.
All carcasses were disinfected, cremated and buried to prevent further spread.
National livestock director Somchuan Ratanamungklanon told AFP, “By the time we realised they were sick, it was already too late.”
The outbreak comes amid regional bird flu alerts in poultry, heightening public sensitivity around animal disease. While CDV rarely devastates wild tiger populations, it can spread rapidly in captivity, particularly where vaccination coverage is inconsistent.
The incident has renewed scrutiny of wildlife tourism practices in Thailand, especially attractions that allow close human contact with large predators, raising fresh concerns over biosecurity, animal welfare and public health safeguards.