Photo by The Independent
According to preliminary tests, the cause of death was a disease known as feline distemper, which affected most of the animals in private reserves where tourists could closely interact with the predators.
According to Somchuan Ratanamungklanon, head of Thailand's Department of Livestock, tigers typically do not come into close contact with humans. "When we notice that something is wrong, the disease may already be in an advanced stage," he added.
The department also suggested that the tigers in captivity may have had weakened immunity due to mating only among themselves, which increased their susceptibility to the virus and exacerbated the course of the disease.
The authorities have taken measures by closing the parks for two weeks, restricting access to the reserves, and starting disinfection of the enclosures and equipment. All surviving tigers have been placed in quarantine, as stated in the article.
