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thailand 2006 - kanchanaburi tiger temple
solo backpacking , 15th June - 29th June & 31st July - 10th August, 2006

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The Tiger Temple, or Wat Pha Luang Ta Bua, is a Buddhist temple in Kanchanaburi province, Thailand - it is also a sanctuary for several tame tigers, which walk around freely every day and can be petted by tourists. It was founded in 1994 as a forest temple and sanctuary for various wild animals - many ophaned or rescued from poachers. I visited in May, 2006.

In 1999 the temple began to home tigers, typically when the mothers had been killed by hunters. Over ten cubs have been born at the temple and there are around 18 in total.

The big cats are fed dry cat food and cooked chicken to avoid giving them a taste for blood, they are washed and handled by monks. Each afternoon the tigers are taken to a nearby quarry where paying tourists can pet them and take photos.

The Tiger Temple practices a different conservation philosophy than in the west. In western zoos and parks, the emphasis is on providing a natural environment for the animals. In the temple, at least until the sanctuary is completed, the animals seem to be treated more as family members. Although it may be possible for the offspring of the current generation to return to the wild, their parents will live out a life of non violence and, according to the Buddhist beliefs of the monks, be more likely to be reincarnated as a human in their next life.

I researched the ethics of the place before visiting and read up on some concerns on the internet that the animals were drugged. I weighed things up and made up my own mind. The tablets, which are openly given to the cats, are milk tablets which they have been bought up on. Westerners working at the temple also confirm that they are well treated and that tigers tend to be more docile in the daytime as they are nocturnal.

links:

• Tiger Temple website
• Wikipedia - Tiger Temple

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