The Chiang Mai provincial livestock office confirmed that tests detected the highly contagious ‘canine distemper virus’, as well as bacteria affecting the tigers’ respiratory systems.

 “When tigers fall ill, it is much harder to detect than in animals like cats or dogs. By the time we realized they were sick, it was already too late,” said Somchuan Ratanamungklanon, director of the National Livestock Department (NLD).

Tiger Kingdom, the park where the deaths occurred, could not be reached for comment. The park offers visitors experiences where they can touch and take photos with the big cats.

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“These tigers died the way they lived, in misery, confinement, and fear,” said animal rights organization people for the ethical treatment of Animals (PETA) Asia. “If tourists stayed away, these places would quickly become unprofitable, and tragedies like this would be far less likely to happen.”