Bird flu virus a concern as tigers, lions die en masse at Vietnam zoos

In the past month, 44 tigers, three lions, and one leopard have died at two zoos in southern Vietnam, with some deaths suspected to be linked to the H5N1 virus, raising public health concerns. The affected zoos are Mango Garden Tourist Area in Dong Nai Province and My Quynh Zoo in Long An Province, both near Ho Chi Minh City.

At Mango Garden, 17 tigers, including cubs just a few weeks old, and one leopard died in September. The tigers reportedly showed signs of fatigue and weakness before their deaths. The zoo has since collected samples for testing, disinfected the enclosures, and isolated the tiger area to prevent further outbreaks.

Veterinary officials from Regional Animal Health Office No.6, which oversees Ho Chi Minh City and nearby provinces, performed clinical examinations and autopsies on two Bengal tigers. Preliminary findings indicate the tigers likely died from pneumonia.

Ngo Van Vinh, Director of the Dong Nai Forest Protection Department, confirmed that the tigers at Mango Garden Tourist Area are licensed. Veterinary teams have been sent to inspect the zoo and plan for the disposal of the dead animals. At My Quynh Zoo in Long An, 27 tigers and three lions died between August and mid-September. Some of these animals were purchased from Mango Garden without proper quarantine certification. Initially, food poisoning was suspected, but tests later revealed the presence of the H5N1 bird flu virus.

Reports submitted to the Pasteur Institute in Ho Chi Minh City show that 30 employees at Mango Garden and three at My Quynh Zoo had direct contact with the animals, but none have shown any respiratory symptoms so far.

Mango Garden houses nearly 90 species, including rare and endangered animals like Bengal tigers, white lions, and red pandas, with successful breeding programs for species like tigers and rhinoceroses. My Quynh Zoo also provides a semi-wild environment for rare animals.

The H5N1 virus, a highly contagious avian flu, can spread from birds to humans and wild animals, causing severe illness and high mortality rates. Although human-to-human transmission hasn't been observed, the virus has been reported globally since late 2023, including in Cambodia. Vietnam's Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has also noted sporadic outbreaks of avian flu among poultry in various regions.