Bangkok, Feb 21: Thai authorities are scrambling to contain a suspected viral outbreak that has killed 72 captive tigers in northern Thailand this month, prompting emergency disease-control measures and the temporary closure of a popular tourist attraction.
Officials said the deaths occurred in two districts of Chiang Mai province — Mae Rim and Mae Taeng — after dozens of tigers began showing signs of illness around February 8.
Teams from the regional livestock office have been deployed to disinfect enclosures and are preparing to vaccinate surviving animals in a bid to prevent further losses.
In a statement, the government’s Region 5 Livestock Office in Chiang Mai said the animals had been infected with canine distemper virus, a highly contagious disease that can affect a range of carnivores. Veterinarians also detected mycoplasma bacteria as a secondary infection, which may have worsened the animals’ condition.
However, Somchuan Ratanamungklanon, director-general of the Department of Livestock Development under Thailand’s agriculture ministry, earlier told local media that the tigers had contracted feline panleukopenia, another serious viral disease.
Explaining the challenges of treating large wild animals, he said detecting illness in tigers is far more difficult than in domestic pets.
“Treating sick tigers is very different from treating dogs and cats,” he said. “By the time we notice that something is wrong, the illness may already be advanced.”
The outbreak has led to the temporary closure of Tiger Kingdom Chiang Mai, a well-known zoo that allows visitors to interact closely with tigers, including taking photographs and touching the animals. The facility is a major draw for tourists visiting the region.
Kritsayarm Kongsatri, director of the wildlife conservation office in Chiang Mai, described the scale of the deaths as “very unusual,” according to Thai media reports.
The incident has raised concerns about disease management in captive wildlife facilities. Thailand and neighbouring countries have faced similar outbreaks in the past.
In 2004, bird flu spread through a tiger zoo in Chonburi province, killing or leading to the euthanasia of 147 animals. More recently, in 2024, dozens of tigers and several leopards reportedly died in Vietnam after contracting avian influenza.
Officials said investigations are ongoing to determine the precise cause of the current outbreak and whether additional containment measures are required. Efforts are focused on stabilising the remaining animals and preventing the virus from spreading further.
