According to information from the local livestock management, samples taken from the deceased tigers tested positive for the canine distemper virus. At the same time, authorities have not yet clarified how exactly the outbreak occurred.
At a press conference held on Tuesday, officials reported that the virus is no longer transmissible and cases of tiger deaths have ceased. It was also stated that no cases of infection among humans have been registered.
According to officials, all animal remains have been buried, and a decision has been made to euthanize severely ill tigers.
Local media report that these tigers were part of more than 240 individuals located in two areas of Tiger Kingdom Chiang Mai.
The canine distemper virus is a highly contagious disease that can affect the respiratory, nervous, and gastrointestinal systems of animals. It is most commonly found in dogs; however, large cats are also susceptible to this virus, which can lead to fatal outcomes.
Additionally, samples taken from the tigers also revealed a bacteria associated with respiratory diseases, as reported by the provincial livestock management in Chiang Mai.
“When we realized that the tigers were sick, it was already too late,” noted Somchuan Ratanamungklanon, director of the national livestock department, adding that identifying the disease in tigers is more difficult than in domestic animals such as cats and dogs.
Somchuan clarified that officials took samples not only from the bodies of the tigers but also from the feed they were given and from the surrounding environment.
Earlier, local authorities stated that preliminary studies showed the presence of feline parvovirus in the tigers. Some officials also suggested that the outbreak could have been caused by contaminated raw chicken meat that was fed to the tigers. A similar case occurred in 2004 when around 150 tigers died or were euthanized due to an outbreak of avian influenza at a tiger zoo in Chonburi.
As reported by Thai PBS, over the weekend, the disease control department announced that none of the veterinarians or staff working with the tigers had fallen ill; however, they are under observation for 21 days.
Animal rights organizations express concern about the conditions in which tigers are kept in captivity and their vulnerability to infectious diseases. The Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand noted that the deaths of the tigers highlight the dangers faced by wild animals in captivity.
The organization PETA Asia also issued a statement that such tragedies could occur less frequently if tourists avoided such attractions.
In light of the incident, Chiang Mai, known as the "Kingdom of Tigers," has temporarily closed for two weeks to carry out disinfection measures.
