A white tiger has died at Chiang Mai Night Safari after reportedly suffering blood poisoning.
Por Petch, a 12-year-old female tiger, suddenly collapsed and died at the zoo today, Thai PBS reported.
Zoo director Saravuth Srisakul said an autopsy showed bleeding from the lungs and believed it had died from blood poisoning.
Por Petch is the second white tiger to die at the zoo in the last three months after Justin, a white tiger famous for dancing to Gangnam Style, died of kidney infection in November.
He had been showing signs of fatigue, drowsiness and listlessness earlier that month before he passed away on Nov. 27.
Por Petch was the first white tiger cub to be given to the zoo by the Zoological Park Organization in Bangkok, 11 years ago.
She gave birth to 13 cubs during her time at the zoo.
Saravuth said the animal would be stuffed and kept at the zoo.
A zoo vet said Por Petch did not show any signs of illness before her sudden death, adding that white tigers tend to live up to around 10 years due to a defective gene, compared to ordinary tigers which live up to 20 years.
The news comes after a recent study showed that the tiger population in Thailand is finally rebounding after enhanced protection measures.
Scientists said they expected the tiger population to increase “even more rapidly in the years to come.”
Related:
The comeback: Tiger population finally increasing in Thailand
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