Bird flu suspected of killing 23 tigers in Thailand

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Bird flu suspected of killing 23 tigers in Thailand

October 19, 2004

 

Agence France Presse

 

BANGKOK - A Thai tiger zoo housing hundreds of the big

cats was, according to this story, shut down Tuesday

after preliminary bird flu tests revealed 23 tigers

had likely died of the virus and another 30 had fallen

ill.

 

The head of Thailand's bird flu taskforce, deputy

prime minister Chaturon Chaisang, was cited as saying

the Sri Racha Tiger Zoo's cats most likely contracted

bird flu after being fed raw chickens, adding,

" Initial test results revealed 19 tigers may have died

from bird flu virus and more tiger deaths this morning

brought the total number to 23, " and that " the zoo has

now been closed for tourists. "

 

The deputy premier said authorities were waiting for

the results of a second round of conclusive tests

before confirming bird flu in the tigers.

 

The kingdom's Livestock Development Department was

cited as saying officials were working to quarantine

tigers at the eastern Chonburi province zoo, which

houses some 400 of the feline predators.