Timeline Reveals: 72 Tigers Die from Feline Distemper at Mae Rim and Mae Taeng Reserves

On February 20, 2024, disease investigation officials from the Chiang Mai Livestock Office visited the tiger reserves in Mae Rim district to investigate the cause of tiger deaths and prevent further spread. They sprayed disinfectant and temporarily closed the area to tourists for 14 days. Officials checked animal food supplies and sent samples to veterinary experts for analysis. After comprehensive investigation, they confirmed a total of 72 tiger deaths - 21 from Mae Rim reserve and 51 from Mae Taeng reserve. The remaining tiger population is now 124. The timeline shows a gradual outbreak starting February 8, 2024, with tigers becoming lethargic and sick. By February 18, multiple tigers were still showing symptoms and dying. Chiang Mai Zoo officials noted they had stopped feeding chickens to tigers previously due to concerns about poultry diseases. Final determination of the exact cause of deaths is pending detailed veterinary pathology results, though feline distemper has been preliminarily identified as the primary cause.