Mass Tiger Deaths Trigger Urgent Response in Chiang Mai
Thai officials are urgently responding to a deadly outbreak of disease that has killed 72 captive tigers in northern Thailand’s Chiang Mai province, prompting widespread alarm and stringent containment efforts. The mass fatalities — unprecedented in scale — were reported between 8 February and 19 February 2026 and have focused attention on animal health protocols at commercial wildlife parks. (turn0search3).
Most of the deaths occurred at two facilities operated by Tiger Kingdom, a popular tourist attraction where visitors can interact closely with big cats — a practice now under intense scrutiny. Facilities in the mountainous Mae Rim and Mae Taeng districts were the hardest hit. Authorities have temporarily closed Tiger Kingdom Chiang Mai to visitors and restricted access to reduce further spread. (turn0news26).
Disease Identified, Veterinary Teams Mobilised
Preliminary laboratory tests suggest that the tigers were infected with a highly contagious virus and secondary bacterial infection, although precise causes are still being studied. Initial findings by the Chiang Mai Provincial Livestock Office detected canine distemper virus (CDV) — a virus that primarily affects canids but can also jump to big cats — alongside Mycoplasma bacteria, which exacerbates respiratory disease. (turn0search24)
Earlier statements by Thai livestock authorities also referenced feline parvovirus (feline panleukopenia) as a possible origin of the outbreak, highlighting ongoing investigations into multiple pathogens potentially involved in the dramatic die-off. (turn0search17)
Veterinary teams have been disinfecting tiger enclosures, quarantining surviving animals and preparing vaccinations to protect healthy big cats. Officials emphasise that CDV and the infections identified do not pose a risk to humans but are devastating to susceptible animal populations. (turn0search24).
Outbreak Emerges at Major Tourist Parks
Tiger Kingdom’s Mae Rim and Mae Taeng sites collectively lost 72 tigers in an unusually short span of days, with 21 deaths at Mae Rim and 51 at Mae Taeng. The sudden rise in fatalities within these captive populations stunned wildlife authorities and conservationists alike, who described it as “very unusual” for such facilities. (turn0search24).
Operators have moved surviving animals to quarantine and care centres for more intensive surveillance and treatment, while ongoing disinfection of enclosures aims to halt any lingering viral transmission. The temporary closure and biosecurity measures reflect the scale of the crisis and the difficulty in policing disease in large carnivores. (turn0search24).
Challenges in Detecting and Treating Tiger Disease
Officials noted that detecting illness in tigers is inherently more difficult than in domestic pets such as cats or dogs, as these big cats do not live in close contact with humans and often mask symptoms until disease is advanced. Somchuan Ratanamungklanon, director-general of Thailand’s Department of Livestock Development, emphasised that by the time visible signs emerged, many animals were already severely ill, complicating treatment and containment efforts. (turn0search24).
Veterinary samples from carcasses and feed are being analysed by the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at Chiang Mai University, and health officials are expanding post-mortem investigation to pinpoint exactly how the outbreak started and spread. (turn0search13).
Welfare Concerns and Animal Rights Reaction
The incident has also drawn criticism from animal welfare advocates, including PETA Asia, which accused private parks of subjecting tigers to conditions that weaken immune systems and facilitate disease spread in captivity. PETA’s statement said such tragedies highlight risks inherent in keeping big cats in close contact with visitors and in artificial environments, urging reconsideration of practices that prioritise tourism over animal well-being. (turn0search7).
Public debate in Thailand and abroad has intensified over how best to balance wildlife conservation, public safety and ethical treatment within commercial animal attractions.
Historical Context and Broader Regional Incidents
Thailand and neighbouring countries have experienced serious disease outbreaks among captive big cats before. A 2004 outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 at a tiger zoo in eastern Thailand killed or necessitated the euthanasia of more than 147 tigers, and in 2024, dozens of tigers and other big cats in southern Vietnam died from similar infections. These earlier incidents underscore the vulnerability of confined wildlife populations to fast-moving pathogens. (turn0news26).
Next Steps in Containment and Investigation
As authorities continue to mobilise resources to contain the outbreak, their priorities include completing detailed laboratory analyses, refining vaccination strategies and strengthening biosecurity at wildlife parks. Cooperation between livestock, conservation and veterinary agencies remains at the forefront of the response, with officials hoping to prevent further losses and safeguard remaining tigers.
The crisis also highlights the need for enhanced monitoring of captive animal health and a reassessment of practices that might expose wildlife to undue risk — both in Thailand and across Southeast Asia’s network of big-cat attractions.
