World Animal Protection US’ Statement on Death of Tigers at Tiger Kingdom

This case is a tragic reminder that tigers do not belong in captivity. The smallest issue can quickly endanger many animals, and the poor welfare conditions they face exacerbate disease outbreaks.

I have been to this tiger facility numerous times and assessed it for our research for the first time in 2009, when they only had 33 tigers. The results of this first assessment are included in our Wildlife on a Tight Rope report, as well as in this peer-reviewed paper. Later assessments in our Tiger Selfies Exposed report, which saw us anonymously visit 17 major tiger entertainment venues, one of those was Tiger Kingdom in Chiang Mai. All 17 offered cruel and unnatural activities and performances. Tiger Kingdom was one of the venues that allowed tourists to get up close to both adult and tiger cubs for selfies.

Statements by the authorities have indicated that Canine Distemper virus was the cause of death. Tigers are well known to be susceptible to canine distemper virus, and the recommendation is to vaccinate to prevent outbreaks– especially in high-risk areas. These sad deaths suggest a failure in preventative measures to mitigate such outbreaks. The knowledge of preventive measures is well established and covered in detail in a recent study conducted at government facilities in Thailand.

The inadequate conditions for tigers at Tiger Kingdom, the high frequency of breeding them for commercial gain, and the proven failure to protect the tigers from disease outbreaks should be a wake-up call for the Thai government to take steps to ensure this is the last generation of tigers exploited for captivity. The facilities have zero benefit for conserving wild tigers, provide no educational benefit, and, apart from causing immense suffering to tigers, put staff and visitors at risk of injury and disease.

Our message is simple: if you can ride, hug, or have a selfie with a wild animal, please don't, and don't support these activities.