The Tiger Temple in Kanchanaburi Thailand
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The Tiger Temple
The infamous Thailand Tiger Temple is located at Kanchanaburi, a couple of hours drive from Bangkok. It is very popular with visitors to Thailand and many people end up visiting either directly or as part of a combination tour. Some visitors actually make the trip to Thailand specifically to visit the Tiger Temple!
Many people are thrilled by the prospect of close contact with a big cat and so having a photograph taken next to a large tiger is an opportunity which few fail to miss. Such visits are generally short and the cocktail of emotions generated by adrenaline, exotic location and new experiences tends to cloud judgement as to what is really happening here. People will usually read and believe the first story they see in print and the Tiger Temple is a fairy story. A fabrication.
The whole junked up story has not been helped by the likes of 'Animal Planet' which, whilst making good television dresses the whole bad practice as something wonderful.
The Tiger Temple gets a lot of 'good' press because the people doing the reporting are actually ignorant of what they are reporting about. They ramble on about conservation and breeding programmes without understanding either. It is actually difficult to be critical of what is going on without being seen to be somehow criticising some Buddhist principle. Most Thai people would not dare to speak out as this would be to offend a monk or the abbot. The temple is not popular with all Buddhists who see it as not in line with Theravada principles.
The Temple claims to have consulted with experts in Tigers and invited them to give advise and educate the staff. Why is it that not one of these 'experts' is prepared to stand up and be counted.
The Tiger Temple has its own web site. It is even more commercial than most commercial web sites. This Temple, or the 'Foundation' behind it are after money and nothing else. There is no real care or concern or even understanding of the animals they keep. One wonders about the 'Foundation' and who they consist of. I believe a clue may be found in the links from the Tiger Temple web site. Not unexpectedly one finds that Sri Racha Tiger Zoo is there, the so called 'Dolphin Sanctuary' too and the Million Year Stone Park. Animal exploiters all. Consider that up to a thousand or so tourists visit the temple each afternoon. Without even considering how much each one pays to get into the temple area there is the fifty or so US Dollars for a photograph with a tiger. Big money is being made here. It IS commercial.
The origins of the tigers at the temple as told appears a probable story. The first animals, cubs, were rescue animals which were reared by monks within the temple. The intention had been to release them back to the wild once mature. The story is only partially true however. A few cubs were rescued but others were actually purchased from an animal dealer. Very quickly someone realised that visitors to the temple were thrilled to be close to the tigers and prepared to pay for the pleasure. So there on started the exploitation of the tigers. Commercial greed took the place of a fictional story of charitable care. The Tigers had to stay.
Whatever the story it never really was a realistic option to release hand reared humanised tigers back into the wild but it makes a very nice story for that gullible element of the press.
The worst news of all was that in mid August 2009 that the Tiger Temple was granted permission to become a zoo. See: Tiger Temple becomes a Zoo. There is a certain element who is delighted about this change in status. It makes a mockery of the fact that previously the Tiger Temple claimed to be a Sanctuary. It is all in a name though. Wild animals in captivity.
That such a consideration should be even thought about let alone actually granted defies common sense.
There is perhaps a notion that tigers have been kept at the temple for hundreds of years, that it is a long established protocol. Nothing could be further from the truth. The first tiger cub to arrive was in 1999...just ten years ago.
There is actually a Facebook cause called Ban The Tiger Temple! which I believe is well worth your joining. I did as soon as I learnt of its existence. Okay I may not have the same political views of many of the members who I suspect may well be 'anti-zoo' but here I agree. This awful place, this conservation lie must be exposed and closed. Sadly the Tiger Temple is given credibility by the visits of uniformed politicians and the likes of the popular but equally uniformed Craig Busch, formerly of Zion Wildlife Gardens.
The Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand also have their own Facebook page which is well worth looking at. In particular the extensive damning correspondence surrounding the subject Tiger Temple in Kanchanaburi is nothing but a sordid theme park...
Pretty girl and Tiger
Letter from the International Tiger Coalition
On October 7th 2008 the International Tiger Coalition wrote to Mr Chaleermsak Wanichsombat, the Director General of the National Park, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department to express their concerns over their 'concern about the captive breeding and trans-border movements of tigers by the Tiger Temple at Wat Pa Luangta Bua Yannasampanno Forest Monastery in Kanchanaburi and about the facility's claims to support tiger conservation.'
It is interesting to note that the International Tiger Coalition is made up of an alliance of some 39 organisations but does not include SEAZA, the one regional organisation that should be taking a prominent role in any discussion. The Coalition does include BIAZA, IFAW, BORN FREE, Association of Zoos & Aquariums, WAZA, WSPA, ZSL and many others.
The letter from the International Tiger Coalition goes on to say:
' Our second concern relates to tiger breeding at the Wat Pa Luangta Bua facility, which has no credible connection with accredited conservation breeding programmes that are deemed to support the survival of wild tigers. You may be aware that in 2007, CITES adopted Decision 14.69 which states that “Parties with intensive operations breeding tigers on a commercial scale shall implement measures to restrict the captive population to a level supportive only to conserving wild tigers; tigers should not be bred for trade in their parts and derivatives”. It should first be noted that circumstances in which the release of captive-bred tigers to the wild can make a contribution to the conservation of wild tigers are virtually non-existent.'
The Coalition is genuinely concerned and goes on to say:
' We welcome your plans to commission genetic testing of the tigers held at Wat Pa Luangta Bua to determine their subspecies and pedigree. However, we note that whatever the results of these tests may be, breeding of tigers ex situ makes no contribution whatsoever to wild tiger conservation unless the animals are included in a multi-institutional conservation breeding programme carefully designed and managed so as to generate conservation benefits. Wat Pa Luangta Bua does not have the facilities, the skills, the relationships with accredited zoos, or even the desire to manage its tigers in an appropriate fashion. Instead, it is motivated both in display of the tigers to tourists and in its illegal trading of tigers purely by profit. We appeal to you most strongly to remove all tigers from Wat Pa Luangta Bua and transfer them to a
more suitable and safe sanctuary facility, where the animals can be accommodated and cared for appropriately and that will not allow for additional breeding.'
Reply to the International Tiger Coalition
Long way to nowhere
Going by the answer to the Tiger Coalition and the reply in February 2009 it seems that, going by this 'zoo' decision in mid August 2009 that we have got nowhere. In fact the situation is worse than it was before. I suppose that with a 'zoo' license it is only a matter of time that they obtain white tigers to add to their menagerie.
I have had a lot of private correspondence surrounding this awful place and am convinced that Thailand must close it down if it is to be seen to be serious about conservation issues.
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Comments
Environment makes changes.I have read the articles written in olden days in Indian article. Environment changes bad person to good one. It has been proved.
Mac Mission - I am not quite sure that I understand what you mean. If you are suggesting that petting tigers somehow makes people better people then there is an element of truth. It has been shown that people benefit from a degree of meditative calm from stroking a domestic cat. Then stroke cats! Do not pull tigers from their mothers, trade tigers illegally, breed irresponsibly, beat tigers, drug tigers and try and dress the whole thing up as a wonderful form of Buddhist conservation.
Well done Peter, brilliant article and I'm just about to sign up for the FaceBook 'Ban'. How do we teach these people? They seem to misinterpret everything!!
I admire your concern for the animals here, but I would still love to go and I bet the conditions they are in is no worse and probably better than zoo's where they are stuck in a cage with no stimulation all day.
kephrira - you should read some of my hubs on zoos. Making such a sweeping statement puts them all in the same box and that is wrong. I understand you would get a kick out of being so close to a tiger or any big cat...I have experienced it and so I know. Any sort of adrenaline rush can be pleasant.
The tigers here at the temple are drugged, beaten, illegally traded, pulled unnecessarily from their mothers for hand rearing, bred unresponsibly and unnecessarily. So I suppose it would be six of one and half a dozen of the other for some zoos but good zoos, responsible zoos would do none of these things. This is pure commercial greed. There is no real concern for the animals at all. Someone, somewhere is making a lot of money..
Nice exciting article!! i enjoyed photos...
Thanks!
Interesting info here Peter, will continue to follow it.
- joe
Amazing article Peter. Very informative as I had no idea that a place like this even existed. Extremely unjust treatment of these wild animals, and I thank you for taking a stand and educating the public about this. What can be done about the mistreatment of these tigers?? Peace n' Blessings! ~K
There are questions being asked in high places Kim. There are people working to sort the problems out. Politics!
Peter Dickinson: Thank-you so much for publishing this article. The tigers to appear to be in good health from the pictures shown, but there seems to be something really wrong with them that they'd allow so much human contact, being pet like that is severely unnatural for them! They must be drugged, what a terrible thing for the curators to do. I'm going to join your cause on Facebook, thank-you for bringing this to our attention.
Thanks Nicole. Please pass the message along because it looks like the only way anything is going to change is if there is universal condemnation.
I visit the Temple regularly when I reside in Hua Hin Thailand. Compassion is as compassion does. The animals are clearly contented and well kept. In fact I have never seen Tigers in better condition or so at ease with their surroundings. The tiger is doomed to extinction in the wild and whilst there is no evidence of malpractice I shall continue to visit and support the Temple. I suspect the vast majority of detractors have never been anywhere near Kanchanaburi.
Sorry Ron. What you are seeing is the shop front with all the dressing up. There is ample evidence of malpractice.
i am here at the temple right now as a volunteer
i am the first person up with the tigers in the morning and one of the last to leave at night and can honestly say these tigers are not drugged in fact they have better medical care than most thai people get... i have seen with my own eyes that the abbot is activley suporting re-forestation projects, education in the local comunity... tell me what are you doing to try to help or are you just another dick head sitting in a air conditation room pissing on another country from a safe distance... you have pleanty to say so how about you roll up your sleaves and get your ass here and prove me wrong... i bet i don't see you because people like you never bother to do anything that might prove you wrong!!!
Richard - You cannot see the wood for the trees. The evidence is above. There is a great deal more unpublished. The Tiger Temple is, as is described above.
well not from what i see and i'm here in the temple... so come and show me where is your proof not here-say show me the evidence... when push comes to shove no one can produce a single scrap... the invite is out there put up or shut up!!!
Richard, I don't doubt you have a good heart and 'volunteer' with the best of intentions (how much do you pay for the 'privilige'?) or perhaps you are a paid lackey?. It is fairly obvious from what you have said in your two comments that you have not fully read the article above nor followed the links from it or you would have a greater understanding of what I am saying. The proof is there!
*This place is a purely commercial operation.
*Cubs are unnecessarily and cruelly removed from their dams for hand rearing.Read: http://hubpages.com/_13rz0ikcd0g1v/hub/Hand-Rearin
*There is NO breeding programme involvement. Read:http://hubpages.com/_13rz0ikcd0g1v/hub/Zoo-Breedin
*There is nothing clever, wonderful, spiritual about interacting with hand reared tigers.
*The Tiger Temple is trading tigers.
*The Tiger Temple does nothing, nothing at all for conservation.
I could go on. Read the evidence yourself. It is not just me. It is every person with just a bit of knowledge about big cats and conservation and breeding programmes which say the same. You obviously lack this knowledge so please do a bit of reading. Why not write your own hub? Look to the top right of this one, you should see a green 'create your own button' ..click on it and tell the world what you know, or don't know. Put up or shut up!!
I note that my post regarding that cats of all sizes routinely given sedative drugs die and the suggestion that critics make their way to China has been deleted. Now there is a surprise! It is abundantly clear that this site is devoted purely to the views or rather prejudices of Dickinson. As with most misinformed do gooders they resort to abuse when cornered e.g. calling someone a lackey.
So O.K. Mr Dickinson as you say Put up or Shut Up, how many times have so been to the Temple and had full access to the entire site as I have ?????????????
I have just noticed the banner.....Hub Pages Publish and Earn. So Mr Dickinson. Is this your little shp front for your rant. How much of a little earner are you making. At the risk of another post being deleted. Why not leave the safety of wherever you are and go to justfiably rant in China about real Tiger farms for body parts. See how long it would take for you to get nicked and locked up.
Ron Hedges - The post you refer to you have never posted. You must have had a dream. What happens in China has no relation to the Tiger Temple. When people bring up such comparisons it is confusing. What would you be trying to say. That there is bad in China so the bad in the Tiger Temple is okay? Unless the posting contains bad language I do not delete. This has nothing to do with me but to educate people who have been brainwashed and fail to understand just what is going on. You, like Richard, who is obviously a colleague, refuse to read the evidence of others and experts. Ignore everything I have said. Follow the links...the available evidence and do your own bit of research. As far as the use of the word 'lackey' was that any worse than Richard referring to me as 'dick head'...I think not. It was he too that first used 'Put up or Shut up'.
You have been taken in Mr Hedges. I meet and hear from a lot of people like yourself who fail to understand what keeping animals in captivity is all about. You get a kick out of relating to the tigers...I understand that but it does not make what is going on there right or correct. The Tiger Temple is a purely exploitative commercial enterprise that does nothing for conservation, education, breeding programmes or tigers. I hate places like that. I don't need access to the Temple. I have read other volunteers testimonies both public and private. I have read the exposes. Even if there was none of these there would still be no conservation, education or breeding programmes. I don't know you Ron, don't want to either particularily. It sounds like you may be one of the shadowy shareholders behind this nasty commercial venture. End of discussion unless there is something brand new you can come up with.
Oh sorry...some sort of glitch Mr Hedges. Your China comment came in afterwards...so it is there. I do 'rant' about other apalling collections too. Sri Racha, Phuket and others.
Funnily enough two of my best zoos in Asia were in China. I would if I was you look into the tiger body part side of things...but you might not like what you find.
Oh indeed certainly new. Common failings with persons like yourself are the making of totally unfounded assumptions and accusations that have no grounds whatsoever. I am not a colleague of anyone at the Temple nor am I as you unpleasantly suggest a shareholder. Cheap shots indeed. I am in fact as retired UK police detective somewhat more qualified than yourself in sifting and examining evidence in a disinterested manner. You may perhaps need to consult a dictionary to see the difference between uninterested and disinterested. I have not been taken in Mr Dickinson I have seen the evidence with my own eyes. Now lets cut to the chase. How many times have you been there? I shall be resident in my home in Hua Hin from Christmas Day through to September. When would you like to meet at the Temple? I am not particularly averse to meeting you and as I am also a qualified teacher I relish the opportunity in educating you about investigation and research. I will even collect you and drive you and pay all fees. I presume that your intimate knowledge of the Temple is based on the fact that you live in Thailand. Abuse in one part of the world does not negate the abuses elsewhere. Of that we are of one accord.You must come terms with the fact however that conservationists have to ply their trade in the real world and believe me if you do not understand that conservation is a trade then you are living in a dream world. The garden of Eden no longer exists. Wildlife has to pay to stay. Fact, there is no such thing as a free lunch. If there is a little commercialism taking place at the temple it is no more than happens in India with Elephant rides through the national parks attempting to see one of the decreasing two thousand wild tigers.If tourists being close to temple tigers leave as nearly all do impressed by the power and majesty of the animals and form a view they must be saved then the Temple is doing a good deal more than yourself. It is clear that you are totally against any wild creature being kept in captivity, an activity that has saved Pere David's Deer, Arabian Oryx, European Bison and Golden Tamarind to name a few.
So when can we meet in Thailand. I will pay for the lunch.
Do you have any hard evidence of body part trading from the Temple? I mean real evidence not anecdotal rubbish. I am sure that if there was even a hint of REAL evidence Her Majesty the Queen of Thailand would not be financing a major project.
Incidentally the two previous posts were not dreams as you might suggest. I really really did type them, honestly.
Ron - a little bit of detective work would show you that I have worked actively in zoos for forty years. I do know what I am talking about in spite of what you believe. I ask you once again to read the evidence and ignore what I have said. As a teacher do your own research. Ignore what I have said. Forget lunch. Thanks. Positively the end of discussion. Good luck.
dohn121 says:
3 months ago
It's disturbing to hear that this is actually going on and that it's linked to Theravadan Buddhist Monks, Peter. Buddhism really is, for all intents and purposes, THE anti-capitalist religion!
It's my belief that the monks have good intentions, but the director really runs the show (circus, whatever) as the monks and abbot most likely has little or no control over the operation of the Tiger Temple. I don't understand how there even is a correlation between monks and tigers...It just doesn't make sense to me.
But I'm for the cause, Peter. Great job bringing this to our attention! Thank you.