Overview
- Authorities say 72 captive tigers died between Feb. 8–18 at Tiger Kingdom’s Mae Taeng and Mae Rim parks in Chiang Mai.
- Autopsies detected canine distemper virus with secondary bacterial infection, and officials have ruled out avian influenza.
- Both facilities are shut for two weeks for disinfection, surviving tigers are under quarantine and monitoring, and officials report no new fatalities.
- Public health leaders report no human infections to date, have placed exposed staff under 21‑day observation, and activated contact tracing and nationwide surveillance.
- Investigators are testing carcasses, raw chicken feed and the parks’ environments to trace the source, carcasses were disinfected and buried or cremated with ID markings, and welfare groups are urging scrutiny of captive‑tiger tourism practices.