Starved of light and food, Thai temple 'sun bear' dies pitifully

[webfact]

Starved of light and food, temple 'sun bear' dies pitifully
By Coconuts Bangkok



BANGKOK: -- An attempt to save an emaciated, light-starved “sun bear” discovered at a temple in Thailand ended in disappointment yesterday as the animal proved too far gone.

“Kwan” the Malayan sun bear died after the group discovered her starving and kept in a dark room Saturday during what the Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand described as a routine check on wildlife kept at a temple.

“The bear had been in the room for so long, without any sunlight, that it got weak, skinny and lost almost all hair,” the group said on Facebook.

Full story: http://bangkok.coconuts.co/2015/03/16/starved-light-and-food-temple-sun-bear-dies-pitifully


-- Coconuts Bangkok 2015-03-16

[thequietman]

I haven't cried in a long while but I am now.

I am greatly saddened by this and in a temple too. I am sorry guys but all monks sicken me.

My distaste for Thailand and Thai people grows each day. For those of you who say it's the minority, I disagree. It is the majority and it will only get worse. I'm heart broken about the demise of this animal. I see dogs everyday with the mange and skin diseases when all it takes from the owner is some 20 baht powder and a tablet. Buddhist, not by a long way.

Just seen the pictures from the paper that published this story. I haven't been this upset in a long time. Please can anyone find out the name of the temple.

[KhunBENQ]

Unfortunately I can only agree. Treatment of animals is absoulutely cruel.

So may suffering/starving dogs in the vlllage.

Many die early.

We have three dogs and two "guests" that come for food and clean water during the day.

I have to pull myself together not to let in more (my wife is not happy with even more).

That this happens at a temple ground, I have no words for.

Forunately the temple dogs here (about 10 or so) are treated fairly well.

[Thaddeus]

I haven't cried in a long while but I am now.

I am greatly saddened by this and in a temple too. I am sorry guys but all monks sicken me.

My distaste for Thailand and Thai people grows each day. For those of you who say it's the minority, I disagree. It is the majority and it will only get worse. I'm heart broken about the demise of this animal. I see dogs everyday with the mange and skin diseases when all it takes from the owner is some 20 baht powder and a tablet. Buddhist, not by a long way.

Just seen the pictures from the paper that published this story. I haven't been this upset in a long time. Please can anyone find out the name of the temple.

100%

Any vague resemblance to Buddhism in this country died a long time ago.

[aothai]

I haven't cried in a long while but I am now.

I am greatly saddened by this and in a temple too. I am sorry guys but all monks sicken me.

My distaste for Thailand and Thai people grows each day. For those of you who say it's the minority, I disagree. It is the majority and it will only get worse. I'm heart broken about the demise of this animal. I see dogs everyday with the mange and skin diseases when all it takes from the owner is some 20 baht powder and a tablet. Buddhist, not by a long way.

Just seen the pictures from the paper that published this story. I haven't been this upset in a long time. Please can anyone find out the name of the temple.

Fully agree with you, the monk things is a joke in TH, most of it is only money related and a lot of them using this as a curtain and they are hypocrite to look good, behind it is like a mafia.

Not all but a lot.

[Just1Voice]

Good thing I'm not in power. This temple would be demolished, razed to the ground, and every monk in it defrocked and held for criminal charges.

[dcutman]

I haven't cried in a long while but I am now.

I am greatly saddened by this and in a temple too. I am sorry guys but all monks sicken me.

My distaste for Thailand and Thai people grows each day. For those of you who say it's the minority, I disagree. It is the majority and it will only get worse. I'm heart broken about the demise of this animal. I see dogs everyday with the mange and skin diseases when all it takes from the owner is some 20 baht powder and a tablet. Buddhist, not by a long way.

Just seen the pictures from the paper that published this story. I haven't been this upset in a long time. Please can anyone find out the name of the temple.

Wildlife Friends identified the temple as Wat Nong Hoi in Prachuap Khiri Khan province.

[KhunBENQ]

Wildlife Friends identified the temple as Wat Nong Hoi in Prachuap Khiri Khan province.

Would be this one then (just in case someone wants to have a chat with the abbot):

https://goo.gl/maps/1txKB

https://plus.google.com/110894554103483458532/about?gl=en&hl=en

also called "Wat Ang Suwan".

[AyG]

The state of the bear was indeed pitiful.

However, perhaps the condemnation of the temple is out of place.

Thai people dump their unwanted pets at temples, knowing that the monks and helpers will do their best to help them.

Ditto wild animals found injured or their babies abandoned.

The temples simply don't have the expertise or the money to look after these animals, but they usually try their best in difficult circumstances.

If Thailand had a proper organisations dedicated to animal welfare such as the RSPCA in the UK then the temples wouldn't have to bear this unwanted burden.

[colinneil]

Temple bear ! the sick <deleted>were to busy buying new i.phones to be bothered to take care.

It is my belief people take animals to the temple to be taken care of.

What are the Thai aorthorities going to do to those blatant sick cruel bastards?

Sweet <deleted> all.

[hanno]

It is a terrible story but if Thailand is anything like here in Cambodia, it is a fact that a lot of people will dispose of their unwanted animals at temples and Pagodas.

[NickJ]

Wow....as of late the Catholic Church doesnt seem all that bad......

[Kaalle]

I know bears are cute but there are humans, children even, being treated the same in some places around world, surely in Thailand as well.

[blowin]

Money no 1 in Thailand!! Temples and monks are the same money no 1 sick sick Thailand sorry to say...............

[arjunadawn]

Can you really indict a larger group of people (the community) from the evil workings of a smaller group? I am afraid yes, its possible. The willingness or sense of "ok" to do this type of evil act is derived from the sense of power or legitimacy from the local or larger population. This is not the work of one single person, I doubt. That more were involved, conspired, to do this barbaric treatment to a living animal suggests they felt impunity and were empowered to do it. They simply felt they would not be held accountable. In this regard a much larger sickness is suggested of the community. I am disgusted.

A a temple? A temple? How sick- for any people- for any time in history. If ever one could be involved in such a thing and remain robed the day after...

[ThaiTerry]

The state of the bear was indeed pitiful.

However, perhaps the condemnation of the temple is out of place.

Thai people dump their unwanted pets at temples, knowing that the monks and helpers will do their best to help them.

Ditto wild animals found injured or their babies abandoned.

The temples simply don't have the expertise or the money to look after these animals, but they usually try their best in difficult circumstances.

If Thailand had a proper organisations dedicated to animal welfare such as the RSPCA in the UK then the temples wouldn't have to bear this unwanted burden.

What a load of crap, It does not matter how they acquired this animal they kept it so they should have at least saw that it got food ( Sun Bears are omnivorous so I am sure they could have found something in the food they beg to feed it} and enough sunlight to keep it alive. Does not take a lot of expertise to know it like all animals has basic needs. If they could not figure this out I am sure they could have found someplace to take this poor animal to like the organization that found the poor thing or a zoo. I doubt they even tried. These monks sure did not do their best to help this poor creature in fact they did DAMN little, it makes me lose respect for the buddist religion. And you piss me off for trying to make excuses for them, there is no excuse for the way this poor creature was neglected it is criminal.

[avander]

Life is cheap enough when it comes to the people. God help the animals.

It sickens me to see this type of treatment and neglect. We provide an occasional feed to the Soi dogs near our local market and try to help other animals we see in trouble. It doesn't take much.

I simply can't comprehend how anyone could let this happen. Couldn't they contact some agency like the Wildlife Friends Foundation that ended up responding here, albeit too late after their random check?

Can they charge people with animal cruelty here as they can in many other countries?

[asean]

I spent an agonizing morning in the back rows of one of the temples in central bangkok last week. When i saw the facilities, offices, monk accomodations, red cross packages and deliveries then hit me that buddhist templedom in Thailand is exactly like Catholisism. If there was no money in it they would not be doing it.

[FiestyFarang]

How monks can go to sleep at night knowing that this poor bear was starving and in the dark on it's own is so cruel. Sadly it is too late for this bear but a detailed investigation should be completed and those responsible punished with at least with a large fine and procedures put in place to make sure this never happens again at any temple in Thailand.

[snottgoblin]

Most of these temples are full of criminals on the lam, or used as fro ts of other criminal operations. As are most organised religions, same old same old, money number one.

Disgusting it is, shocked I wasnt.

[marko kok prong]

The longer i stay here,the more disgusted i become,what the hell is wrong with these people.

[Manbing]

The animals are on the wrong side of the bars

-in both senses of the way that phrase could be interpreted

[AyG]

The state of the bear was indeed pitiful.

However, perhaps the condemnation of the temple is out of place.

Thai people dump their unwanted pets at temples, knowing that the monks and helpers will do their best to help them.

Ditto wild animals found injured or their babies abandoned.

The temples simply don't have the expertise or the money to look after these animals, but they usually try their best in difficult circumstances.

If Thailand had a proper organisations dedicated to animal welfare such as the RSPCA in the UK then the temples wouldn't have to bear this unwanted burden.

What a load of crap, It does not matter how they acquired this animal they kept it so they should have at least saw that it got food ( Sun Bears are omnivorous so I am sure they could have found something in the food they beg to feed it} and enough sunlight to keep it alive. Does not take a lot of expertise to know it like all animals has basic needs. If they could not figure this out I am sure they could have found someplace to take this poor animal to like the organization that found the poor thing or a zoo. I doubt they even tried. These monks sure did not do their best to help this poor creature in fact they did DAMN little, it makes me lose respect for the buddist religion. And you piss me off for trying to make excuses for them, there is no excuse for the way this poor creature was neglected it is criminal.

Have you seen the rather charming documentary series about three Roman Catholic priests and their housekeeper on Craggy Island off the coast of western Ireland, "Father Ted"?

How do you think they would have coped if somebody had dumped a Sun Bear in their parochial house? Do you think they'd really have known how to care for it? Feed it? Mrs. Doyle's tea, cake and sandwiches probably wouldn't have met its dietary requirements.

Your anger at the religious institution is misdirected. Your anger would better be directed either at the people who dumped the animal there, or wider Thai society for not providing proper refuges for animals in need.

In the absence of evidence to the contrary, I would suggest that the temple probably did its best with limited knowledge and limited resources.

[CharlieH]

Several derogatory comments removed.

11) You will not post slurs, degrading or overly negative comments directed towards Thailand, specific locations, Thai institutions such as the judicial or law enforcement system, Thai culture, Thai people or any other group on the basis of race, nationality, religion, gender or sexual orientation.

[cruisemonkey]

I hope the monks responsible are reincarnated as worms to be used as bait.

[Daniel Ingalls]

Are the Monks responsible for the lockup?.........This is a very cruel way of keeping a bear! Who authorized this bear kept at the temple. I see a good flogging of all who new of this, and chose to do nothing about it. This is worse than killing Soi dogs.

[kingstonkid]

It does not matter whether the monks had too many animals or did not nkow what to do. That is crap.

There are enough zoos in this country that all they needed to do was have someone call for help.

The more I hear about monks the more I wonder about Bhuddism.

I am not really seeing anything that tells me that this is an enlightened religion.

I agree that the head flunky and all the other monks there should be removed. put them at temples that have no money and have no support working with the poor.

If this was the anglican or catholic churches of a muslim mosque there would be holy hell to pay.

Another thing for the General to look at for corruption.

Temple books should be reviewed every year by the governement and publlished for all Thais in the area to know what is happening at their wat.

[starkey_rich]

Totally disgusting.

I was talking about monks last night and asking what the ---- do they do with all the money they collect from all the idiots giving them millions for making merit.

Usually praying for a win on the lottery.

Not that I am religious in any way but most others religions at least help people but what do this lot do?Absolutely sweet F --- as far as I can see.

By the way it was a Thai I was asking and they could not tell me what good they did for anyone.

They are totally arrogant bunch one nearly knocked me over the other day as he thought I should get out of his way .&lt;deleted&gt;

[maidee]

and he was kept inside for

drum rollllllll

money ?

[AyG]

and he was kept inside for

drum rollllllll

money ?

Money???

ํYour evidence? (Or evidence of your prejudice.)

Or perhaps he was kept inside because the monks showed compassion and didn't have (or know of) any other option.