Why did 72 tigers die at a Thailand tourist park in under 2 weeks?

In early February, 72 tigers died at Tiger Kingdom, a tourist park in Chiang Mai, northern Thailand. The deaths have prompted an investigation into the facility and renewed scrutiny of Thailand's captive wildlife tourism industry. Initially, canine distemper was suspected, but contaminated food is now also being considered as a potential cause. Tiger Kingdom allows tourists to interact closely with tigers, a business model common in Thailand but criticized by animal welfare groups. These groups highlight the vulnerability of captive wildlife to infectious diseases and the ethical concerns of breeding and confining wild animals for entertainment.

An investigation is underway in Chiang Mai, Thailand, after 72 tigers died at two facilities of Tiger Kingdom Chiang Mai this month. The tourist park allows visitors to interact with the tigers. Authorities suspect canine distemper virus as the cause, though the exact source of the outbreak remains unconfirmed. Samples from the tigers also showed a bacteria associated with respiratory disease. Officials have cremated and buried the remains of the tigers, which were part of a larger population of over 240 at the facilities. Staff are under observation, and animal rights groups are raising concerns about the welfare of captive tigers in Thailand.