The Tiger Temple in Kanchanaburi, Thailand has, in the space of just a few years become one of the 'must sees' for visitors to Bangkok. It dresses itself up in a 'my buddy tiger' guise and, because it is situated in a Buddhist Temple with a Monk input it is 'almost' protected from criticism within the country. It is though cruel, commercial and exploitative. It only exists because of tourist visits. There are continued efforts from people and groups 'in the know' to get this place closed down and yet this week they were granted permission to become a zoo. Three people were arrested after protesting over this decision. This is bad news folks. Very bad news. Please read these links to learn more: The Tiger Temple The Tiger Temple in Kanchanaburi Thailand and Very Bad News - The Tiger Temple Becomes a Zoo Zoo News Digest: Very Bad News - The Tiger Temple becomes a Zoo
With perplexed wide open eyes one reads this piece of a ... journalism! Oops, so much for conservation breeding? Do the monks really understand the concept ... no, not by a long shot or 60,000!
In the news ..... again : https://www.washingtonpost.com/news...?hpid=hp_no-name_photo-story-d:homepage/story
The New York Times has also chimed in on the current situation. Thai Officials Battle Buddhist Monks Over Tigers' Fate The fact that the temple is probably involved in slaughtering tigers and trading body parts really sets my teeth on edge. Though, I must express some concern over the Thai government's ability to take in another hundred plus cats. By all available press, they're already stuffed to the gills with rescues that can't be returned to the wild.
Whilst religion has generally earned itself a bad reputation; bhuddist monks have managed to avoid this and generally have a very favourable reputation; even in films. So with no major negative media outcry at the activities happening at the Temple the average person has no reason to suspect that there are problems Bad care or rundown facilities might well be accepted as the trails and troubles of working in a more challenging country; whilst most people also have no clue about the care of tigers and thus might well assume that all that they are shown and see is correct and proper - and of course they won't be privy to the missing tiger details. There is an air of silence to this, nothing makes it into the media to highlight it whilst I suspect that as a major attraction the government doesn't want to rock the boat. Personally I think its a great shame that the temple could not involve itself with international organisations to improve their care and the overall conservation status of the tigers.
It's msn news so maybe not the best but Dead tiger cubs found in Thai temple amid trafficking fears Reports they are only taking half the tigers (or thereabouts) and 50 odd cubs found frozen in freezers on site.
More about the temple raids: Thai Tiger Temple's long history of controversy - BBC News The authorities are now feeding the remaining tigers as the monks have stopped feeding them
It is and was a shambles' and shameless location for both wild caught and tigers purportedly bred at the facility. But: truthfully there is no adequate acco as yet to house the confiscated tigers from the Kanchanaburi temple complex. That is equally disconcerting to me … and tends to get overlooked amidst all the internet hoarding and media hype. I wish they would prosecute the Kanchanaburi temple order properly and at the same time order them to pay up for better housing and a sound final solution for these captive tigers (surely most if not all are unlikely to be able to be sent back to the wild). It would be interesting to find out if the tigers are of Indochina or mixed origins ...
That the temple monks are disrupting and apparently washing their hands of hte whole affair speaks volumes as to their motives somewhat.
It appears that with the temple closed, an actual zoo will be taking it's place. Months After Raid on Infamous Tiger Temple, Plans for Offshoot Zoo Forge Ahead
Given their past, I am not optimistic about this reopening. I really think it should be shut down completely.
@AD, agreed as I do have reservations too. It will be interesting to see who will manage it and whether adequate animal husbandry and management skills are in place and at the helm. If the national Thai ZPO would be on board and in control I would feel all the better.