Veterinarians are racing against time to save tigers seized from Tiger Temple as criticism grows against their department, DNP
B4 looks OK, but it’s critically sick.
The mature Siberian tiger labelled as B4 has been placed under special care after it has critically shown symptoms of inbreeding-related laryngeal paralysis. Veterinarians have been providing it with medicines and enrichment in an attempt to boost its immunity against the disease. If it still failed, they would consider conducting an operation for laryngeal paralysis as a last ditch to save its life.
B4 is among a few tigers out of 31 left at Khao Prathap Chang Wildlife Breeding Center under the National Parks, Wildlife, and Plant Conservation Department (DNP), which has developed a critical condition about inbreeding-related laryngeal paralysis, in the complication of canine distemper virus.
The rest of the tigers also have reportedly developed mild to moderate symptoms of the same disease, leading to blame on the DNP, which conducted a flashlight operation of tiger confiscation at the famed Tiger Temple in Kanchanaburi province a few years ago that resulted in 147 Siberian tigers at the temple transferred to the centre and nearby Khao Son but then having fallen into a massive death.
Out of 85 siezed tigers placed under care at the center, 54 so far have been pronounced dead. At Khao Son, the situation is not much different; 32, out of 62, have also reportedly fallen.
The DNP said the dead tigers’ carcasses have been stuffed with formalin in a plastic tank, pending for approval for carcass disposal. Some tanks have already been buried because formalin in the tanks is drying up, releasing a strong odour of the dead bodies into the air_and possibly, various diseases. (Photo: Sayan Chuenudomsavad)
Each tiger has been provided with around a 40 sq m cage, with zones set inside, plus a yard to help reduce stress. Every day, it would be fed with fresh chickens from certified factories. Medical check-ups are also provided regularly.
However, nearly half of the confiscated tigers, around 40, had developed the symptoms in the first place when they were received at the centre. (The centre first received the first 5 tigers in January 2016 and another 5 the next month before a big lot of the seized tigers were sent to it and nearby Khao Son in June of the same year.
But in May, the first few seized tigers started to have fallen from the inbreeding-related laryngeal paralysis before the canine distemper virus was detected, according to Banpot.
Banpot said he would not point the finger at anyone or where the diseases were from but would try to take care of the animals at his best and said his staff had done their best to take care of these animals too.
“I personally believe that those who raise animals love animals and would not hurt or leave them. We too have done our best, and also because it’s our duty,” said Banpot. (Photo: Sayan Chuenudomsavad)
Those with a critical condition would receive an operation for laryngeal paralysis as a last ditch to save their life.
So far, the numbers of tiger members in each group are not stable, depending on their recovery from the illness, the veterinarians said. (Photo: Sayan Chuenudomsavad)
Veterinarians have been providing it with medicines and enrichment in an attempt to boost its immunity against the disease.
The fact is the disease is incurable. Niether the canine distemper virus. (Photo: Sayan Chuenudomsavad)
So far, vaccination against the canine distemper virus is also considered as a new hope as veterinarians believe it links to laryngeal paralysis. By blocking it in time, the tigers would stand more chance.
But vaccination is tricky because this is the first time that the virus has been detected in tigers and there are no direct vaccines for it, according to the veterinarians.
In addition, vaccination could increase the chance for the virus and several others to be undercovered, thus posing the threat of virus outbreaks in other wild animals at the centre.
This is critical because these animals could one day be released into the wild and carry the virus and others along, triggering the outbreaks in the wild, they fear.
So, the fates of B2, B4, and the rest are now hanging in a balance.
“I cannot say whether or not they will stand a chance to survive, but as I said, I and my staff would try our best,” said Chief Banpot. (Photo: Sayan Chuenudomsavad)
A documentary photographer residing in Bangkok, Thailand. Diverse and vibrant, his images capture everyday people living alongside the challenges of development, climate change and social changes in the Mekong region.