In the News
October 20, 2023
Dr. Martin Gilbert, our wild carnivore health specialist, reflects on his decades-long research into canine distemper virus in endangered wild tigers, from the Russian Far East to Southeast Asia, and the valuable partnerships he has developed to help implement disease surveillance systems to monitor wild tiger health.
May 04, 2023
In the past century, the global tiger population has dwindled from over 100,000 to between 3,726 and 5,578 animals. In this literature review led by Cornell, researchers suggest disease surveillance is increasingly important as tiger populations decline and become more vulnerable to disease outbreaks.
For Your Information
April 21, 2023
The contraction of the global tiger population over the last 100 years into small, often isolated subpopulations has made them increasingly vulnerable to the impact of disease. Despite this, the health of wild tigers continues to be insufficiently funded and explored.
February 21, 2023
Cornell researchers have confirmed the first cases of canine distemper virus in tigers and leopards in Nepal. This is significant, as both populations are already threatened and the virus can cause fatal neurological disease.
December 10, 2021
Dr. Martin Gilbert, Wild Carnivore Specialist at the Cornell Wildlife Health Center, has worked extensively documenting the threat of canine distemper virus (CDV) to endangered Amur tigers in the Russian Far East. He is now working to determine the threat of CDV to other tiger subspecies.