72 Tigers Die from Distemper at Thailand Tourist Park
Did authorities respond responsibly to a disease outbreak or does this expose wildlife tourism's cruelty?
Above: A tiger seen inside a cage in Tiger Kingdom in Chiang Mai, Thailand, on Sept. 21, 2019. Image credit: Stringer/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images
The Spin
Pro-government narrative
Disease outbreaks happen, and authorities acted responsibly by quickly identifying canine distemper as the cause and confirming that there was no human transmission risk. Officials are monitoring the situation closely to prevent further spread and maintain public safety.
Government-critical narrative
This tragedy exposes the dangerous reality of wildlife tourism, where captive tigers suffer in confinement until disease kills them. Commercial parks prioritize profit over animal welfare, creating conditions where infections spread rapidly and detection comes too late to save lives.