At least 72 tigers have died in a private park in Thailand following attacks by dangerous viruses and bacteria.
According to international news agencies, the deaths occurred at the Tiger Kingdom park, where officials could not be contacted on Saturday.
The Provincial Livestock Office in Chiang Mai reported that tests revealed the presence of the highly contagious canine distemper virus alongside bacteria affecting the respiratory system.
The national livestock department director told local media that tigers are more difficult to detect as sick compared with animals such as cats or dogs. By the time it was realised that they were unwell, it was already too late.
PETA Asia, an organisation working for animal rights, stated that the tigers died in the same manner as they lived, enduring great pain in an environment of confinement and fear.
