Authorities in Chiang Mai, a city in northern Thailand, are investigating the deaths of dozens of tigers at a popular tourist attraction this month.
Seventy-two tigers died in the span of less than two weeks across two facilities of Tiger Kingdom Chiang Mai, a park where visitors can touch and interact with tigers.
The provincial livestock office in Chiang Mai said in a statement on Friday (Feb 20) that testing detected the highly infectious canine distemper virus as well as bacteria affecting the respiratory system.
“When tigers fall ill, it is more difficult to detect than in animals like cats or dogs. By the time we realised they were sick, it was already too late,” Somchuan Ratanamungklanon, director of the national livestock department, told local media.
The park where the deaths occurred, Tiger Kingdom, could not be reached for comment on Saturday.
Its website advertises a chance for visitors to touch and take photos with the big cats. (BBC/ CNA)