Thai Officials Say 72 Tigers at Tourist Parks Died of Canine Distemper, Allaying Bird Flu Fears
In this handout released by Tiger Kingdom sanctuary in Chiang Mai, dodies of dead tigers are laid in preparation for autopsy near a crematorium in Tiger Kingdom Learning Center in Chiang Mai, Thailand, on Feb. 12, 2026. Tiger Kingdom sanctuary in Chiang Mai via AP
BANGKOK—The deaths of 72 tigers in two animal parks for tourists in northern Thailand shouldn’t be a major concern for the public, officials said Tuesday, because they were caused by a virus not known to affect humans, rather than bird flu.
No one has shown any symptoms so far, but authorities were nonetheless monitoring the health of people who had recently come into contact with the animals.
