Tiger Temple in chaos

KANCHANABURI: -- The Tiger Temple in Saiyok district of Kanchanaburi province was turned into a chaotic scene of protest when a combined force of over 100 police, soldiers and park officials seized six Asian black bears and tried to take them out of the temple yesterday.

The standoff between officials and monks continued in the morning today.

The officials who were led by national park chief Somsak Pompet came with a court warrant to search the temple again after they were not allowed entry the day earlier to check three missing tigers from the temple.

At the inspection of the temple yesterday, they seized six Asian black or Moon bears after the temple staff could not produce official documents that they were obtained legitimately.

But as officials tried to leave the temple ground with the bears in a cage, they were blocked by almost a hundred of monks and staff led by the abbot.

The monks sat on the front gate in front of the vehicle that carried the cage, blocking the officials to leave.

Negotiation for three hours ended with no success to convince the protesting monks to allow the vehicle to leave.

The deputy governor Boonyasopon Chantara-upai was called in to help negotiate in a second round but also was unsuccessful when the abbot refused to negotiate.

No negotiation was held Thursday night as both sides were still confronting each other at the temple although officials would explain that the standoff could hurt the bears in the cage which might cause them to become exhausted and might die.

Earlier on Wednesday, National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation officials went to the temple to check for three tigers which were suspected to be missing.

The three tigers are among seven Bengal tigers which the department under former director general Plodprasob Suraswadee seized from the temple in 2001 but left them under care of the temple after it promised to look after them.

The three missing tigers are 3-7 years of age.

The authorities brought with them microchip scanners to identify but they were not given cooperation to enter or search.

The temple now houses a total of 146 tigers.

The authorities said they would seek a search warrant from the court and return to the temple again yesterday.

They plan to confiscate all tigers from the temple and transfer them to a sanctuary in Ratchaburi province if they find that the temple is unable to take care of the tigers. Concerned authorities had already impounded more than 100 hornbills from the temple, which are suspected to be involved in illegal trade.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/tiger-temple-in-chaos


-- Thai PBS 2015-04-03

Tiger Temple Tiger Mystery Remains Unsolved

KANCHANABURI: -- The Tiger Temple is back in the spotlight today. Three tigers have mysteriously disappeared from the temple, or have been purposely removed. The tiger’s disappearance

Police, soldiers and park authorities attempted to go to the temple, but were turned away. The temple refused to cooperate, forcing the group to seek a court order to enter the temple. It is expected that the group will return to the temple shortly to investigate what happened to the three tigers that are now unaccounted for by the park.occurred after new complaints were voiced over the welfare of the animals.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/814346-tiger-temple-tiger-mystery-remains-unsolved/

Disgusting. Defrock all 100 of them.

I hope they fed the bears while negotiating.....in the meantime they are caged in these small boxes at the top of the truck

No rule of law.............none.

Bears they didn't even have papers for, three tigers gone missing and God knows what else.

No rule of law..........none.

Defrock? I would send them before Buddha for judgement.

I would never let my kids or anybodys kids go near a tiger.

How stupid

live rounds....

Negotiate? Why! Arrest!!

"The monks sat on the front gate in front of the vehicle that carried the cage, blocking the officials to leave.

Negotiation for three hours ended with no success to convince the protesting monks to allow the vehicle to leave.

The deputy governor Boonyasopon Chantara-upai was called in to help negotiate in a second round but also was unsuccessful when the abbot refused to negotiate."

Don't negotiate any more.

Arrest them and gaol them.

Seems Thais now want to be monls as it can be a lucrative occupation

again we see thai law in action, not, these monks have broken the laws they are refusing to abide by a court order and are stopping the police/wild life officers from doing their work. The only answer for this is to arrest the abbott as well as all the others that are blocking them. This is not at the monks leisure, they are required to obey the laws just like every other thai citizen, this is simply bullsh*t. The monks have been caught out bigtime with their lies and falsehoods but cannot accept the loss of their earnings from their corrupt practices, time to stop pussy footing around with them and start to take control of the situation, they need to be heavy handed here, no exception.

For some reason monks in Thailand think they are untouchable, they are involved in graft and corruption up to their eye balls yet still think they have the right to refuse to obey the law, the thai officials are becoming a laughing stock, if they do not take control now and put the monks in their place the country will become just one big the joke to the rest of the world.

They have been sold to the Chinese. Almost certainly.

"In Taiwan, a bowl of tiger penis soup (to boost virility) goes for $320, and a pair of eyes (to fight epilepsy and malaria) for $170. Powdered tiger humerus bone (for treating ulcers rheumatism and typhoid) brings up to $1,450 lb. in Seoul."

http://www.singlevisioninc.org/tiger_body_parts_sold.html

Just level the place, it is a mockery of Buddhism and Thai conservation efforts. A tiger parts factory and tourist trap.

Nothing but thugs wearing saffron robes!!!

Come judgment day and these so called monks will face their karma.

The Authorities need to get the Boys in green to remove these "Monks" and let the experts do their investigations.

Monks are above the law! Thai Buddhism is different to rest of the world!

Disgusting. Defrock all 100 of them.

Indeed. Close the <deleted> down once and for all. We have all seen the way they "look after" dogs and other domestic animals. It leaves little confidence that they would do better with other species and in any event there is no reason whatsoever for this place to exist.

It has been known for years that this place has been trafficking tigers and other wildlife and gets away with it because it is a temple, but monks are not above the law. The abbot can often be seen in his chauffeur driven merc. The Thai Buddhist authorities should start doing more to clean up the image of Buddhist temples and expel more monks. More and more abbots are more interested in money than Buddhism. Local abbot here on Phuket is kicking out the dogs that have lived there for years because he says interferes with his car parking enterprise. Temple is opposite the weekend market.

.

Don't be shy now say something. I was the same way on my first post. Jump in with both feet. The Keyboard Keystone Kops are just sitting in the bushes waiting for you so be brave. Just remember the old saying "sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me" Go for it!!!!

Seems Thais now want to be monls as it can be a lucrative occupation

Correct, this place is ALL abut making money and nothing about care for the animals. I hope the tigers are moved and the monks (and their influential cronies) are put out of business.

Search on tripadvisor to see comments about this place. It's disgusting.

Always sad to see when the wrong subjects are kept in cages.

Defrock? I would send them before Buddha for judgement.

Buddhism does not have a god. It is a series of teachings, almost none of which

Thai people follow, including the monks. This tiger temple is a river of money,

and "monks" trying to protect it by blocking the police should be thrown in jail.

Like the rest of Thailand "money no.1" So why should monk's think differently they are Thai after all.

Tiger temple....??

This is Just another Criminal Enterprise Designed to enrich Hiding behind the Saffron Robe..

Its Nothing to do with Buddha or saving the poor Animals its all to do with what these "Monks" and I use that term Loosely.. truly worship the god of Baht..

Buddhism in Thailand is becoming so perverted

"Monks" getting Head from Women

"Monks" Getting massive amounts of personnel wealth

"Monks" Murdering

"Monks" Assaulting and fighting

"Monks" Stealing Donations

Criminals running away to become a "Monks"

Criminals committing crime and asking "Monks" to be Blessed and all is forgotten..

Pilgrims being Forced to make "Donations" when vising Sights of worship...

THIS IS NOT Buddhism this is the PERVERTED version that is called Buddhism here that worships god of Baht.

A gathering of more than 5 persons (Are monks real people?) Send in the army, shoot over their heads (initially) and arrest them all!

Why are these "holy" monks fighting so hard to keep the tigers? Pure and simple ... it's the money.

A gathering of more than 5 persons (Are monks real people?) Send in the army, shoot over their heads (initially) and arrest them all!

I agree but it wont happen because its "Monks"

Are the park officials dumb or stupid that could not ask for more backups from the military or police? The monks' action implies that something if really fishy within this temple.