Tiger Temple raided:

[cgphuket]

I have heard complaints about this place for the last 5 years. Glad the government responded so quickly....

[Dogmatix]

There have been reports on the scammery of this 'temple' from NGOs for years. It is a disgrace that has been left to fester because it was so profitable. Hats off to the current regime for taking action.

[Boycie]

Went there in the early days. Entry (even for farangs!) was only a few baht. Tigers were free to roam in the old quarry and you could get your photo taken with them. A donation box was there as you left the area to help develop the sanctuary but the sum was up to you if anything!

Went back about 3 yrs later and it was in full swing as a commercial enterprise. All of the grand plans from past years were still just plans with little to show for past donations. Tigers were now chained and somewhat controlled by squirting tiger urine into their nostrils when they got agitated. Never been back since and discourage others from visiting.

Ahhh the early days with a few rescued tigers and a donation box.

What a diffrence a few years make http://www.tigertemplethailand.com/

[cumgranosalum]

Sriracha Tiger zoo near Pattaya was busted red handed selling tiger to China

a few years ago. Must be some serious money involved in this trade..

That case faded away, guess the right money was paid. I suspect this temple

is doing the exact same thing. Breed a tiger, make money showing it while it

is growing up, and then sell it to China. A sickening outcome for such a

magnificent animal. Sure wish the moronic men in China who eat tiger penis

soup will realize that Viagra works better, and saves tigers at the same time.

And Viagra is much cheaper, especially the Thai equivalent manufactured by the Thai Pharmacy organisation (GPO) and certainly more effective than sucking a tigers d_ck

and just how would you know that viagra is more effective than sucking a tigers weewee?

Look like you need to learn about scientific research and how it is carried out. If you knew, you wouldn't have to ask such a facile question

[cumgranosalum]

Went there in the early days. Entry (even for farangs!) was only a few baht. Tigers were free to roam in the old quarry and you could get your photo taken with them. A donation box was there as you left the area to help develop the sanctuary but the sum was up to you if anything!

Went back about 3 yrs later and it was in full swing as a commercial enterprise. All of the grand plans from past years were still just plans with little to show for past donations. Tigers were now chained and somewhat controlled by squirting tiger urine into their nostrils when they got agitated. Never been back since and discourage others from visiting.

Ahhh the early days with a few rescued tigers and a donation box.

What a diffrence a few years make http://www.tigertemplethailand.com/

You do realise that eve then their claims and stories about how it started are all apocryphal?

[junk1e]

Not before time. That the monk has his own large mercedes was a giveaway.

[lynnnayko]

I have been there once and decided not to go there again. It is a ugly tourist attraction place. Poor tigers, they should be in the wild, not being drugged (may be) and entertain the humans.

[Godders]

Scary place. Took the kids there. Once was enough. Total lack of security for the crowds of visitors, with some tigers (looking oddly docile - possibly drugged?) only constrained at the end of a chain by a handler. No contest, I remember thinking, if the animal suddenly decided to take off and make a meal of one of the gawping tourists. We didn't stay long.

[Artisi]

Sriracha Tiger zoo near Pattaya was busted red handed selling tiger to China

a few years ago. Must be some serious money involved in this trade..

That case faded away, guess the right money was paid. I suspect this temple

is doing the exact same thing. Breed a tiger, make money showing it while it

is growing up, and then sell it to China. A sickening outcome for such a

magnificent animal. Sure wish the moronic men in China who eat tiger penis

soup will realize that Viagra works better, and saves tigers at the same time.

And Viagra is much cheaper, especially the Thai equivalent manufactured by the Thai Pharmacy organisation (GPO) and certainly more effective than sucking a tigers d_ck

and just how would you know that viagra is more effective than sucking a tigers weewee?

Look like you need to learn about scientific research and how it is carried out. If you knew, you wouldn't have to ask such a facile question

Think LuckyLew was playing the court jester, not making or trying to pass on fully researched scientific knowledge.

[cumgranosalum]

I have heard complaints about this place for the last 5 years. Glad the government responded so quickly....

5 years - you have to be joking! - it has been criticised since its inception

[MobileContent]

I have to say Well Done

[craigt3365]

And yet with all this bad publicity over the years, tourists still flock to this place. Crazy. But heck, they still ride elephants also.

[DM07]

Now that the exploited tigers are off their sedatives, a scene from 'gladiators' comes to mind. Watch those robed guys run !

Throw them a few sticks to defend themselves with.

They wouldn't need sticks!

For years they tamed 1 ton of muscles, fangs and claws just by being nice and respectful!

[CockneyGit]

Awful place, should have been closed down years ago.

Started out as a ''charity'', now is nothing more than a money making scheme.

[csabo]

Shark fins next??

[Somtamnication]

Thank god. There is a Bhudda. Made my day!

[DAiler]

Something that has been very obvious for a very long time..

Indeed. They've been proudly abusing tigers for 20 years.

[wilcopops]

Must say I feel somewhat ambivalent about this news. The place needs sorting but are the right people doing it?

[Lovekorat]

Yes, went there quite innocently a few months ago when visiting the a River Kwai bridge. Arrived at the site and was met by people from an animal cruelty organisation handing out leaflets about the place. If the pamphlets are correct it is horrifying what goes on.

They even said that many if the men weren't monks at all and it was not a sanctuary but a business in profiteering.

Didn't go in and left as did some others and put a message on Facebook so I am pleased to see something happen there.

A rare well done to the Thai authorities

[PaulHamon]

1800 pounds of pig meet per day (based on quick Google search for 100 tigers) or around 18 x 90 kg pigs

18 pigs x 6000 Baht = 108,000 just in pig meet.

plenty of money left over for cement statues and other Buddhist crap.

but it's better than the tiger penises being sold for magic Chinese medicine in Burmese.

it's all relative.

[andrewrooney]

Good to see this. Should have been done a long time ago.

Hopefully they can find a home for tigers

[PaulHamon]

Yes, went there quite innocently a few months ago when visiting the a River Kwai bridge. Arrived at the site and was met by people from an animal cruelty organisation handing out leaflets about the place. If the pamphlets are correct it is horrifying what goes on.

They even said that many if the men weren't monks at all and it was not a sanctuary but a business in profiteering.

Didn't go in and left as did some others and put a message on Facebook so I am pleased to see something happen there.

A rare well done to the Thai authorities

profiteering.. like all zoos in the world today.

[PaulHamon]

Hopefully they can find a home for tigers

Yes, much better the sold to Chinese business man with libido problems.

It might not be the perfect place in the world, but it's much better than the other options.

[wilcopops]

Went there many a moon a go cost me 100 baht and my Thai wife for free, twice, had to sign that I donated the 100 baht btw.

Never went back, but, our Thai grown up children (from my wife's side) went there and all Thais complained about the fee they charged for Thais and non Thais as well, 600 baht.

I just smiled, thinking to myself, "I told you so" as I did tell them.

Re the 100 tigers, where is there a place to keep them in Thailand other than where they are now? Anyone knows? Kan Safari Park has the land, but , for 100 of them I think not.

Win

My main concern is WHY? What is the pretext for this raid?

If it is for the benefit of the animals? Why are they already moving some? What arrangements have been made?

What is needed at that temple is CHANGE OF MANAGMENT. This would then be the first step in sporting out the appalling mess the monks have created.

Yes the animals probably shouldn't be moved yet as I doubt if there is anywhere appropriate to put them.

In the end isn't even satisfactory housing at the temple for this number of tigers.

So rather than a "raid" one would have hoped for a civilised and controlled handover of the place to those who really know what they are doing and then a gradual dispersal of the animals as and when suitable accommodation was found.

[gyrosman]

Are there any vices that monks are not involved in?

Must of been trained by the catholic church.

[prakhonchai nick]

Thank god. There is a Bhudda. Made my day!

If there is, he should learn to work more enthusiastically. Should have sorted out these rogue monks and all the others on Day 1 if he is as all knowing as people believe!

[Boycie]

I see a news report this morning on Thai television. Didn't see any handling of tigers, looked like they were after the birds.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ZzFlrj4ock

The Abbot monk did not look a happy chappy, must have a dose of bad karma

[lvr181]

Wolves disappeared? May be some one was tipped off about what was to happen?

Yup, a conspiracy theory

I hope you can prove me wrong

[pacovl46]

About time! The truth about the tiger temple websites has been preaching that for years!

[hughben]

I see a news report this morning on Thai television. Didn't see any handling of tigers, looked like they were after the birds.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ZzFlrj4ock

The Abbot monk did not look a happy chappy, must have a dose of bad karma

He shaves his head when he pleases?

Those birds were probably on order for someone and he will lose a load of cash.