Thailand’s Wat Pa Luangta Bua Yannasampanno Forest Monastery promises to rescue and rehabilitate 15 orphaned tigers that have since become the temple’s star attractions. The tigers draw busloads of curious tourists every day who pet the animals and take photos with them.
While the temple claims to have long-term goals of releasing internally bred cubs into the wild, many have accused the “Tiger Temple” of cross-border tiger trafficking and animal cruelty, claiming that the wild cats are kept in a constant drugged state.
Accusations include the lack of a license, knowledge or proper procedures to run and conduct a breeding programme; misrepresentation of the original tiger cub sources, the continued exchange of tigers with a Laotian tiger farm; systematic abuse of the animals, woefully inadequate housing and mental stimulation; inappropriate diet; and poor visitor safety precautions.
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