Setbacks in saving tigers from disease

Wildlife Vets International (WVI), a British charity saving endangered species using veterinary expertise, has increasing evidence that the world's most endangered tigers are facing a new and deadly danger from canine distemper virus (CDV). Not only has CDV killed tigers in Russia and India, but experts now agree that the virus causes a change in tiger behaviour, making them less afraid of humans and more at risk from conflict and poaching.

WVI co-founder and big cat specialist Dr John Lewis shares mounting concerns on the impact of CDV within the Russian Far East, India and potentially Sumatra and other range states, where domestic dogs are coming into contact with wild tigers and leopards.

In Indonesia, the Sumatran Tiger Health Forum (STHF) has been created to initiate and coordinate disease surveillance activities for tigers across the whole of Sumatra, and advise on disease mitigation strategies should they become necessary.

A major leap forward, this new Indonesian initiative will contribute to the conservation of the dwindling Sumatran tiger population, now down to less than 500, and combat the emerging threat of distemper. ‘We aim to create veterinary services in these areas using people who are experienced in wildlife medicine and conservation, because that is what is needed,’ says Dr Lewis.