Kanchanaburi, Thailand

I could never have believed how soft and fluffy are the ears of a tiger.

Luckily, I managed to visit the Tiger Temple, Wat Pha Luang Ta Bua, in April 2003, long before it was made famous by the television channel Animal Planet. After that, it has been just tourism gone bad. When I was in there, there was just a handful of backpackers and tigers were taken care by the monks, and the relationship seemed to be quite friendly.

Nowadays, there are approximately 600-800 visitors per day, and constant reports of mistreating, abuse and illegal trade of the tigers by the local workers have been filed. I have been shocked to read the reports like this HERE

“We clearly DON’T RECOMMEND A VISIT at the Tiger Temple and ask visitors to Kanchanaburi province to boycott the temple”, writes kanchanaburi-info.com.

2 Responses to “Kanchanaburi, Thailand”

  1. 4 Sep 2008 at 5:35 pm tiggy0123

    With regards to the notorious Tiger Temple in Kanchanaburi, Thailand - following complaints from tourists and volunteers about tigers being mistreated there, Care for the Wild International (CWI) undertook an intensive two year investigation. The resulting CWI report reveals illegal wildlife trade, animal cruelty, false conservation claims and visitor safety risks at the Temple.

    You can read the report at: http://www.careforthewild.com/projects.asp?detail=true&I_ID=580&mypage=Reports

    This issue has widespread media coverage:

    CWI’s press release - “Illegal tiger trade, cruelty and human health hazards at famous tourist destination”:
    http://www.careforthewild.com/files/tt_news_release%2020-06-08.pdf

    “Black market tigers linked to Thai Temple, Reports says”
    National Geographic News, 20 June 2008:
    http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/06/080620-tiger-temple.html

    “Thai tiger temple a con job, says wildlife group”
    The Straits Times, 21 June 2008:
    http://travel.asiaone.com/Travel/News/Story/A1Story20080623-72311.html

    “UK wildlife group slams Tiger Temple”
    Bangkok Post, 27 June 2008:
    http://www.bangkokpost.com/270608_News/27Jun2008_news14.php

    “Danish tour operator boycotts well-known Thai tourist attraction”
    ScandAsia Denmark, 7 July 2008:
    http://www.scandasia.com/viewNews.php?coun_code=dk&news_id=4474

    Canada: CBC National News, 9 July 2008:
    http://www.cbc.ca/thecurrent/2008/200807/20080709.html

    “Danes join boycott of tiger temple”
    The Nation, 11 July 2008
    http://nationmultimedia.com/2008/07/11/politics/politics_30077848.php

    “New report says Thai Temple misleads visitors, abuses tigers”
    Ethical Traveller, July 2008:
    http://www.ethicaltraveler.org/news_story.php?id=1101

    “Paradise Lost”
    The Star, 15 July 2008
    http://thestar.com.my/lifestyle/story.asp?file=/2008/7/15/lifefocus/15
    35960&sec=lifefocus

    Spiegel article (in German):
    http://www.spiegel.de/wissenschaft/natur/0,1518,562903,00.html

    Tigers malnourished, illegal breeding, kept in sweltering temperatures 40 degrees or more
    “It’s a travesty”
    http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Thew-Tiger-Temple-Travesty-t140483.html

    Additionally, Animal Planet TV channel have now dropped their programme on the Temple.

  2. 7 Sep 2008 at 1:54 pm maikulian

    Thanks, Tiggy, for the additional links. It is so sad what has happened in there.

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