In a tragic outbreak, forty-seven tigers, three lions, and a panther have died due to the H5N1 bird flu virus in zoos across South Vietnam, state media reported on Wednesday. The fatalities occurred between August and September at two major locations: My Quynh Safari Park in Long An Province and Vuon Xoai Zoo in Dong Nai, near Ho Chi Minh City.
According to the Vietnam News Agency (VNA), test results from the National Centre for Animal Health Diagnosis confirmed that the animals succumbed to the H5N1 type A virus. Despite the severity of the outbreak, neither of the zoos responded to requests for comment. The VNA also stated that no zoo workers in close contact with the infected animals had shown any respiratory symptoms.
Education for Nature Vietnam (ENV), a prominent wildlife conservation NGO, revealed that as of the end of 2023, 385 tigers were living in captivity across the country. Of these, about 310 are housed in privately owned farms and zoos, while the remainder are in state-run facilities.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has raised alarms over increasing cases of deadly influenza outbreaks among mammals since 2022, including those caused by the H5N1 virus. While the virus can result in mild to severe symptoms in humans, it has been known to cause fatalities. Earlier this year, Vietnam reported a human death caused by H5N1 to the WHO.
This is not the first time bird flu has impacted big cats. In 2004, dozens of tigers died or were culled following a bird flu outbreak at the world’s largest tiger breeding farm in Thailand.
The recent deaths in Vietnam highlight ongoing concerns about zoonotic diseases and their impact on wildlife, as well as the risk of transmission to humans.
