Sad news after last week’s Jumanji-comes-to-life moment in Malaysia’s eastern Terengganu state that saw a tiger roam the streets of a village: The captured tiger, named Awang Besol by authorities, died early this morning at the National Wildlife Rescue Center in Perak.
Officials from the Department of Wildlife and National Parks confirmed of his passing at 5:30am this morning, saying that many efforts were made to save the tiger’s life, but he was already in the later stages of Canine Distemper virus.
Awang Besol was already showing signs of the disease’s fatal later stages, with neurological signs of non-aggressiveness, walking in circles, fits and nasal discharge.
The highly contagious virus that can infect dogs and other wildlife, has a vaccine, but most of those inoculated are domestic canines. When dealing with the disease, treatment is largely symptomatic, and focused on preventing any secondary bacterial infections.
Wildlife officials have not ruled out the possibility that the virus may have already spread to other wildlife in and around the Kampung Besul Lama area of Dungun.
After giving villagers quite the fright last week when he was seen roaming around town, the 130kg tiger was captured using a tranquilizer dart late Friday afternoon.
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