Chiang mai: Authorities are urgently investigating the cause of death of 72 tigers at the Mae Rim-Mae Taeng Tiger Sanctuary in Chiang Mai, where dozens more have fallen ill. Disinfection efforts are ongoing as livestock officials conduct a thorough investigation to determine the cause of the disease. Autopsies have revealed that the tigers were infected with Mycoplasma.
According to Thai News Agency, the entrance to the Tiger Kingdom, a popular tourist attraction in Mae Rim District, displays a sign indicating its temporary closure to the public. No outsiders are allowed into the area following reports of several tigers dying and falling ill. The remaining 30+ tigers have been relocated to a quarantine and care center in Mae Taeng District, about 30 kilometers away.
Today, Chiang Mai livestock officials conducted a detailed investigation into the cause of deaths and illness among the tigers, following four rounds of disinfection and the collection of 600 swab samples throughout the tiger sanctuary for safety reasons prior to reopening.
It has been reported that the Office of Protected Area Administration Region 16 has summarized and reported the situation of numerous tiger deaths at Mae Rim Tiger Sanctuary in Mae Rim District and Mae Taeng Tiger Sanctuary in Mae Taeng District to the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation. Of the 54 tigers under their care at Mae Rim Tiger Sanctuary, 21 have succumbed to disease-related causes between February 10th and February 18th, leaving 33 tigers remaining. All remaining tigers have been transferred to Mae Taeng Tiger Sanctuary for quarantine and treatment.
At Mae Taeng Tiger Sanctuary, which housed 146 tigers, 51 have died since February 9th, leaving 95 remaining. In total, 72 tigers have died across both locations in the past eight days.
Reports indicate that several tigers have died, some with severe infections, prompting a disease investigation. All deceased tigers were elderly, and a number of relocated tigers are also exhibiting signs of illness, with the veterinary team closely monitoring them.
The Tiger Sanctuary in Mae Rim serves as an ecclesiastical haven for various tiger species. It is a renowned tourist attraction in Chiang Mai, where visitors can interact closely with some of the tigers in their enclosures under the care of a team of keepers.
Laboratory tests by the Department of Livestock Development revealed infections with Mycoplasma spp. and Canine distemper virus (CDV), with no detection of influenza A virus. The disease investigation was conducted by veterinarians from the Department of Livestock Development and the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation. They conducted a detailed autopsy on the tiger carcass, collecting samples of organs, blood, and bodily fluids for confirmatory testing at the Department of Livestock Development's laboratory to systematically determine the cause of death.