'Tiger Temple' Is Not Abusing The Animals, Thai Wildlife Officials Say

An investigation into Thailand's famous "Tiger Temple" found no evidence of abuse of the more than 100 tigers that live there, wildlife officials said Thursday, according to the Associated Press.

Visitors from all over the world flock to Wat Pa Luangta Maha Bua, where its 143 remarkbly-tame tigers roam the compound and interact with the monks and tourists.

The temple in Thailand's Kanchanaburi province was accused of drugging the tigers to keep them subdued, the AP reported. But a three-hour inspection of the compound- carried out by 50 wildlife officials and soldiers- turned up no evidence of abuse or drug use.

"The tigers are living in quite healthy conditions. They are well taken care of," Cherdchai Jariyapanya, director of the regional office of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, told the AP. "They have had microchips embedded in them and the department has been informed every time a new cub is born." The microchips also help fight animal trafficking.

The Buddhist temple's record, however, isn't completely spotless. Wildlife agents conducted a raid last week and confiscated 38 rare hornbill birds among other species illegally kept at the compound.

Charges were brought against the bird keeper, Jariyapanya told the AP.

The temple's tiger family began in 2001 when it agreed to care for seven Bengal tigers recovered during a wildlife investigation.

From then, the collection grew to over 100. The makeshift zoo has become a booming tourist attraction, with monks entertaining spectators by playing with the wild felines. Tourist donations go towards caring for the animals and the compound's upkeep.

It's not clear if the tigers will remain at Wat Pa Luangta Maha Bua, as the investigation is ongoing. But Jariyapanya hinted they may not be removed, as government resources for long-term animal care are already stretched thin.

"The cost of handling the animals will be about more than 20 million baht ($612,000) a year, and we would have to build a new facility to support them. And we already have a number of confiscated tigers in our custody already," he said.

Tags

Thailand, Wildlife, Animal abuse