Phuket: Tiger mauls Australian tourist at Tiger Kingdom

[ChiangraiTony]

Hopefully the guy recovers without any permanent injuries.

Why are the hospitals being so hush hush about this? It's not as if they respect their patients privacy when it has been news worthy in the past.

Yes, I hope too that he will recover without any permanent injuries.

It's interesting why you would ask 'why' are the hospitals so hush hush. Could it be that the Tiger Kingdom management gave them instructions not to provide any information? Do you suppose that they may be concerned with how this will affect their business, especially now with the high season quickly approaching?

One of Thailand's most important priorty is making money. They care about their numbers of tourist that visit them. Let's hope that they have an effective method of analyzing what went wrong and correct the situation to where it never happens again.

[steelepulse]

Another local news publication has published an interview with the punter in question. Reporter says that the hospital tried to block access to the guy, but the guy that got mauled wanted his story to get out and he's not blaming the tiger.

[Reggae rancher]

Maybe the Aussie approached the tiger in an inappropriate manner!??????

[arunsakda]

I avoided going to this montrosity for ages, only capitulating within the last two years from the pleading of girlfiends, both Japanese and Thai. I do not believe that the tigers are drugged. Most of the medium to big ones are not suitable for petting and kept segregated. The most horrible thing to contemplate is the fact that they have to keep breeding constantly to keep a supply of "small" tigers for petting. Tigers live a long time and require much food and care. Obviously the big ones not suitable for petting are eventually slaughtered and sold to the Chinese for junk medicine. No matter how mellow these specimens might seem to be they are dangerous animals and maulings WILL happen. I have a stupid picture of myself lying on a giant female tiger in CM when the photographers assistant put its tail in my mouth like I was a slut in a porn film.

Tigers are magnificent and this whole zoo thing should be banned.

The only way to protect tigers in the wild is to protect their habitat. Period.

Edited October 22, 2014 by arunsakda

[gerry123]

on an on on an on on an on on an on on an on on an on on an on on an on on an on on an on on an on on an on on an on

oh no tourists cant think why what you reckon somchai ????

Edited October 22, 2014 by gerry123

[schweizer]

Unless of course the Australian that was mauled was Rupert Murdoch, if so well done tiger

in this case though best check the tiger for blood poisoning

I think Murdoch is an American citizen? Guess you don't like yanks?

Nope, he is an Australian who took US citizenship when he ran out of friends in OZ

Edited October 22, 2014 by schweizer

[Tuskfish]

Hopefully the guy recovers without any permanent injuries.

Why are the hospitals being so hush hush about this? It's not as if they respect their patients privacy when it has been news worthy in the past.

Tourism authority would just love having this to add to the Military Coup, the Koh Tao murder and the .... <fill in the blank(s)>

[hiller]

Head Zookeeper already has that skin up for sale. Same as Tiger zoo during bird flu scare. Head guy said he thought 6 Tigers showed symptoms so he killed them all and sold the hide. What a guy. So interested in public safety.

[Shot]

I'll never understand why anyone would go to such a place.

[JetsetBkk]

on an on on an on on an on on an on on an on on an on on an on on an on on an on on an on on an on on an on on an on

oh no tourists cant think why what you reckon somchai ????

Another nail in the coffin of...

Except they keep coming, year after year, rip-off after rip-off, scam after scam... Amazing Thailand.

[loonodingle]

Troll....

Love the people jumping on their high horses passing off their dumb opinions like they know it all, when what they're really doing it revealing they know nothing.

[richard10365]

It is a bit sad for the tiger I think. People are everywhere and tigers can't be allowed to roam free. If they do, people will most likely end up as a food source for these large animals.

What is the solution? Do we have them stay on large tracks of land protected from interacting with people? Eventually, they will get out.....maybe. If they reproduce in significant numbers, then people might have to exterminate the potential threat.

Tigers are a victim of their own awesomeness. Maybe there is no room anymore for them on the planet. Maybe they should end up like the dinosaur. Can you imagine a T-Rex running around eating.....everything? Environmentalist hot on their trail screaming there are only 6 left and we need to save them!!!

Really? Is that true? Do we really miss the contribution of the T-Rex eating whatever they want? Would we equally miss the tiger in this part of the world? Other than for tourist, what benefit do they bring? They don't really have a dependable food source. At Tiger Kingdom they have a steady supply of chickens for the big game hunters. Not much of a challenge...not much of a life.

About the only thing you can do with an animal like this is to move them to some other part of the world where they can thrive. Thailand is not that place.

Damned hard nosed comments. Another critic without giving an acceptable/viable alternative?

The plight of the Tiger is not my job. I'm neither concerned nor care for the beast. Like the dinosaurs, their time in Thailand has come and gone. Send them to Africa, keep them as a tourist attraction or dispose of them. Either way, people should not complain when someone gets eaten from time to time.

It's only a matter of time before the same thing happens to the YouTube wonder boy that plays with lions.

[SjaakNL2013]

I find it very sad for the guy and hope that those Tiger Kingdoms, Tiger temples and what more close as quick as possible. Most zoos, despite all the good words, mistreat their animals.They need space and a natural habitat.

The last time i saw a tiger in the wild, in this case a Siberian tiger, it took us 3 weeks to follow the trail, before we could made a photo of her. on a distance of at least 500 meter under the wind. Then you see how many kilometer they walk to keep their territory safe and clean from intruders.

And that is how i like to see wild animals...... in the wild and not drugged and chained in a Tiger Hell.

[slipperylobster]

Leave animals alone. Stop taking photos of chained elephants and tigers. If you like these animals, put them away from dumb tourists.

[RigPig]

They saved a 1000 Baht a week by cutting down on the meds.....

[RigPig]

One of my ex's told me when she was a kid someone in the village shot a tiger and they ate it...

Ah Thailand, if it moves, eat it, if it doesn't move, eat it later....

[sunshine51]

Phuket Tiger mauls an Austraian.....Hmmmmmm...

What's the tiger doing in Phuket in the first place....think about it eh.....$$$$$ Perhaps?

Sure it is the reason and a sorry one at that...akin to elephants on the streets of BKK

or Hatyai or.....name your place.

How many of these folks who supposedly know how to "control" a tiger can actually

controll the big cat? Let alone; where did they get their "knowledge" from? None that

I have ever had any contact with. These folks do "dope" the cats...but the dope wears

off doesn't it. Then what?

Take 400 pounds (or more) of a wild animal and let it mix around with humans of

doubious nature....The "Here Kitty Kitty" may seem appropriate in cartoons but

to the big cat....life ain't a cartoon. And the human always looses. When the mixing

with humans crops up disasters are always gonna happen.

For example....just take your little house cat and let it have a conniption on your

leg or arm/hand.....hurts eh? That little house cat is nothing like a pissed off so called

"use to humans" tIger (or leopard, lion, cheetah etc...etc...) and you don't even

have to let your house cat have said conniption...it will have one when & where it

desires....same as with it's larger brothers & sisters. Can you "read" it's feelings?

I won't go on and on anymore...save to say that any "sanctuary" or park or zoo

or whatever, that allows humans to interact with large (or small) predators should be

permanenty closed and the money they rake in found elsewhare. The big cats are

surely beautiful to see...but not under the conditions most of them are kept in.

And the best advice to pass on to everybody is to boycot these places which

keep these animals as "showpieces'....because it is only about the money and

sweet FA abut anything else...especially anything to do with the animals within.

If one wants to see tigers in their natural habitat PM me & I'll gve you tips on where

to go....but getting there isn't gonna be cheap nor is your stay. You will see tigers

though...that's a guarantee. In the wild. Heaps of them.

I hope the Aussie makes a complete recovery....and holds no grudges against the

tigers....after all....it wasn't their fault they were confined.

[Oziex1]

It is an outrage that 'zoos' in Thailand are allowed to let visitors have close access to tigers for photos. It is an outrage to put the visitors at risk. It is an outrage to hold and sedate tigers.

There are tiger farms in Thailand breeding tigers for slaughter for the Chinese market. The litany of abuse of wild animals is never ending.

Remember the Chiang Mai Night Safari where the minister announced that 'exotic meat' was to be available there at a special restaurant? The plan was to let visitors eat the animals! If you don't believe it, the details are in my book.

Did they serve Komodo Dragon.

It's from a movie

[benj005]

It was going to happen sooner or later. I don't get the appeal of taking a close up photo with a tiger. Especially one that is drugged.

Imagine if these tigers got lose in Pattaya and they made their way to walking street!

[draftvader]

They just keep coming thick and fast, don't they!

Yes, thick being the operative word. Its been totally flogged to death, repeatedly used, boring and not original.

To be honest I'm not sure I understand you. I was referring to the continuous blows to the tourist industry. Anybody would think TAT was cursed!

[NativeSon360]

FYI, in case you didn't get the memo. Tigers and people don't mix well

Tigers don't even mix well with other Tigers

Edited October 22, 2014 by NativeSon360

[Alwyn]

I read a lot of the comments with people saying tigers belong in the wild and how they are all drugged etc... Both of these comments are not necessarily correct. Tigers and most other big cats lay around and sleep during the daytime due to the heat (a bit like your dog does at home), it's not down to drugs (necessarily) but their natural built in clock. That's why the "playtime" with the tigers is normally about 5pm, when they're wakening. Saying that tigers belong in the wild would be ideal in a perfect World. In Africa and the subcontinent there are wildlife sanctuaries (and in particular, tiger sanctuaries) as the World has lost 97% of wild tigers in just over the last century. If the monks in Chiang Mai are happy to run a sanctuary I say well done. If they charge an admission fee to help cover the costs, fair play. Monks selling them to rich types in China? Please provide evidence.

[transam]

Witnesses said they saw a boat leaving the scene with the accused on board ...........................

.

[Goshawk]

Reluctantly went to Tiger Kindom Chiang Mai once (Mrs wanted to go and do that popular 'laying down, cuddling the big cat' thing .)

The huge adults were clearly doped with something (the ones in the 'cuddling area') so we went along and did the obligatory photo op. I remember thinking at the time, my God . . if this beast suddenly came back to it's full senses and swiped out?! sheeesh....!!

Thankfully i prefer them from a distance out in the wild. This visit was a strict, albeit interesting, one off.

[NativeSon360]

I read a lot of the comments with people saying tigers belong in the wild and how they are all drugged etc... Both of these comments are not necessarily correct. Tigers and most other big cats lay around and sleep during the daytime due to the heat (a bit like your dog does at home), it's not down to drugs (necessarily) but their natural built in clock. That's why the "playtime" with the tigers is normally about 5pm, when they're wakening. Saying that tigers belong in the wild would be ideal in a perfect World. In Africa and the subcontinent there are wildlife sanctuaries (and in particular, tiger sanctuaries) as the World has lost 97% of wild tigers in just over the last century. If the monks in Chiang Mai are happy to run a sanctuary I say well done. If they charge an admission fee to help cover the costs, fair play. Monks selling them to rich types in China? Please provide evidence.

The Chinese claim that Rhino horns have medicinal properties. As such they pay some stupid bush African up to $10K per horn. The Rhino dies. Now, do you really believe the Chinese are above reproach, by convincing some panhandling monk to sell them a Tiger, for the right price? What comic book version of Thailand are you living in, bloke? Huh?

Edited October 22, 2014 by NativeSon360

[circusman]

I wish him a speedy recovery.

DNA tests will show that this is an Asian tiger, probably of Burmese origin. RTP claim that the tiger made a confession. The tiger interpreter provided a certified translation that read "burp". The tiger now has spectacularly withdrawn her confession, saying she was beaten into the confession while a plastic bag was placed over her head.

A humor-less post IMO

[circusman]

I read a lot of the comments with people saying tigers belong in the wild and how they are all drugged etc... Both of these comments are not necessarily correct. Tigers and most other big cats lay around and sleep during the daytime due to the heat (a bit like your dog does at home), it's not down to drugs (necessarily) but their natural built in clock. That's why the "playtime" with the tigers is normally about 5pm, when they're wakening. Saying that tigers belong in the wild would be ideal in a perfect World. In Africa and the subcontinent there are wildlife sanctuaries (and in particular, tiger sanctuaries) as the World has lost 97% of wild tigers in just over the last century. If the monks in Chiang Mai are happy to run a sanctuary I say well done. If they charge an admission fee to help cover the costs, fair play. Monks selling them to rich types in China? Please provide evidence.

And what the heck good are the monks doing? Acting as tiger farms for rich Chinese ? Come on, get real.

[samsensam]

by patronising the tiger kingdom and other such places you are condoning the ill-treatment of animals.

the photos of tourists posing with tigers look and are pathetic.

[NativeSon360]

Phuket Tiger mauls an Austraian.....Hmmmmmm...

What's the tiger doing in Phuket in the first place....think about it eh.....$$$$$ Perhaps?

Sure it is the reason and a sorry one at that...akin to elephants on the streets of BKK

or Hatyai or.....name your place.

How many of these folks who supposedly know how to "control" a tiger can actually

controll the big cat? Let alone; where did they get their "knowledge" from? None that

I have ever had any contact with. These folks do "dope" the cats...but the dope wears

off doesn't it. Then what?

Take 400 pounds (or more) of a wild animal and let it mix around with humans of

doubious nature....The "Here Kitty Kitty" may seem appropriate in cartoons but

to the big cat....life ain't a cartoon. And the human always looses. When the mixing

with humans crops up disasters are always gonna happen.

For example....just take your little house cat and let it have a conniption on your

leg or arm/hand.....hurts eh? That little house cat is nothing like a pissed off so called

"use to humans" tIger (or leopard, lion, cheetah etc...etc...) and you don't even

have to let your house cat have said conniption...it will have one when & where it

desires....same as with it's larger brothers & sisters. Can you "read" it's feelings?

I won't go on and on anymore...save to say that any "sanctuary" or park or zoo

or whatever, that allows humans to interact with large (or small) predators should be

permanenty closed and the money they rake in found elsewhare. The big cats are

surely beautiful to see...but not under the conditions most of them are kept in.

And the best advice to pass on to everybody is to boycot these places which

keep these animals as "showpieces'....because it is only about the money and

sweet FA abut anything else...especially anything to do with the animals within.

If one wants to see tigers in their natural habitat PM me & I'll gve you tips on where

to go....but getting there isn't gonna be cheap nor is your stay. You will see tigers

though...that's a guarantee. In the wild. Heaps of them.

I hope the Aussie makes a complete recovery....and holds no grudges against the

tigers....after all....it wasn't their fault they were confined.

FYI - Tigers are indigenous to Phuket.

[tomyumchai]

Phuket Tiger mauls an Austraian.....Hmmmmmm...

What's the tiger doing in Phuket in the first place....think about it eh.....$$$$$ Perhaps?

Sure it is the reason and a sorry one at that...akin to elephants on the streets of BKK

or Hatyai or.....name your place.

How many of these folks who supposedly know how to "control" a tiger can actually

controll the big cat? Let alone; where did they get their "knowledge" from? None that

I have ever had any contact with. These folks do "dope" the cats...but the dope wears

off doesn't it. Then what?

Take 400 pounds (or more) of a wild animal and let it mix around with humans of

doubious nature....The "Here Kitty Kitty" may seem appropriate in cartoons but

to the big cat....life ain't a cartoon. And the human always looses. When the mixing

with humans crops up disasters are always gonna happen.

For example....just take your little house cat and let it have a conniption on your

leg or arm/hand.....hurts eh? That little house cat is nothing like a pissed off so called

"use to humans" tIger (or leopard, lion, cheetah etc...etc...) and you don't even

have to let your house cat have said conniption...it will have one when & where it

desires....same as with it's larger brothers & sisters. Can you "read" it's feelings?

I won't go on and on anymore...save to say that any "sanctuary" or park or zoo

or whatever, that allows humans to interact with large (or small) predators should be

permanenty closed and the money they rake in found elsewhare. The big cats are

surely beautiful to see...but not under the conditions most of them are kept in.

And the best advice to pass on to everybody is to boycot these places which

keep these animals as "showpieces'....because it is only about the money and

sweet FA abut anything else...especially anything to do with the animals within.

If one wants to see tigers in their natural habitat PM me & I'll gve you tips on where

to go....but getting there isn't gonna be cheap nor is your stay. You will see tigers

though...that's a guarantee. In the wild. Heaps of them.

I hope the Aussie makes a complete recovery....and holds no grudges against the

tigers....after all....it wasn't their fault they were confined.

FYI - Tigers are indigenous to Phuket.

i dont think that 1 was, otherwise it would have left in the morning and ended up in a zoo around bangkok. and then it wouldnt need to be tested for DNA to rule it out of the attack.