Kanchanaburi Tiger Temple in Thailand
Tigers at the Wat Pa Luangta Bua Yammasanpanno Forest Monastery
Jul 22, 2008
Better known for its bridge over the River Kwai and its many World War II war cemeteries, there is another attraction for animal lovers in Kanchanaburi — the tigers at Wat Pa Luangta Bua Yammasanpanno Forest Monastery. Local tour agencies in the center of Kanchanaburi offer a half-day tour, or visitors can go it alone.
The Tiger Temple’s Beginnings
The monastery’s abbot, Pra Acharn Phusit, has been caring for abandoned tigers and other animals since 1999, when, he claims, some orphaned tiger cubs were found in the neighboring forest and brought to the temple to be cared for. The abbot (head monk) is a gentle, inspirational man, willing to pose for photographs with the tigers and welcoming visitors. It is interesting to see his close bond with the tigers, as they respond lovingly to him.
During the first few years, visiting the monastery was very much a low-key affair. Occasional visitors, expats and locals happily roamed around the grounds amongst other wildlife, very much at their own risk. The monks themselves were the tigers only handlers but today, visits are more structured and highly supervised, with the help of animal conservation volunteers.It is also more commercialized.
Reknowned international animal trainer, Jachinthe Bouchard recently (August 2008) paid her second visit to the temple, spending 2.5 weeks training staff in animal-training techniques and giving biomedical training. A planned new enclosure will be used for training the monastery's cubs to give them the necessary skills to survive in the wild.
Touch the Tigers
Tourists on organized tours are taken at around 3pm in the afternoon, when the fully-grown tigers are let out into a big rock canyon, their play area. Visitors can walk amongst them and have their photographs taken. Any questions raised by visitors as to whether the animals are drugged does not go down well, although the animals do appear to be unnaturally docile. On the foundation’s website a response to such a question is posted, “No, they are not drugged. " The site goes on to point out that tigers are nocturnal animals, so they sleep during the heat of the day. A tiger’s eyes are better adapted to lower light levels than their prey species, so they can surprise their prey with greater ability in darkness, meaning they are more active and hunt at night. The site argues that a wild animal which has been sedated is likely to be more dangerous, as it becomes disorientated with its surroundings, feels threatened, and therefore more likely to attack.
Care for The Wild International Report
The monastery however, is the subject of the Bangkok Post article "UK Wildlife Report Slams Tiger Temple," of June 27, 2008. The article refers to the findings of a 2-year investigation carried out by the Care for the Wild International (CWI). According to the Bangkok Post, Thailand's leading English newspaper, the CWI report claims to have evidence of an illegal wildlife trade, animal cruelty and false conservation. It also raises its concerns over safety risks, due to the fact that visitors are in such close proximity to the tigers.
The existence of the tiger temple has proved a controversial topic which continues to envoke for and against responses from local residents, tourists and conservationists. Some temple volunteer and visitor comments can be found on the monastery's official website. Thailand's acting deputy director-general, Kamolwat Visetsiri of the National Parks, Wildlife and Plants Department has promised to investigate, in response to the CWI's complaint.
Visitor Safety at the Thailand Tiger Temple
Visitors wellbeing is controlled by letting only one or two people into the tigers' play area at a time; with handlers keeping a close watch and monitoring the tigers’ every move. The animals are used to human contact and are often more than willing to roll over for a tummy rub. However, these are still wild animals, with their teeth and claws intact. On arrival at the temple visitors sign a disclaimer regarding their safety and there is also a warning not to wear red, as this can aggravate the tigers. Also, visitors are asked not to wear strong perfume or scent.
Organized Tiger Tours
The majority of tiger tours offered are for half a day, and can be purchased at any of the local Kanchanaburi tour operators for around $15. An alternative is to sign-up for an inclusive Thailand tour, which takes in both its tigers and elephants. International operator, Keith Jones of Petatiger.com offers the opportunity to have breakfast with the monks, and the chance to walk with the unleashed tigers. This 9-day Thailand organized tour takes in the sites of Kanchanaburi and Chiang Mai. There is a detailed account of the tour in the Mail on Sunday's July 14th 2008 online Travel Mail feature, "Feeding Time at Tiger Temple," by Viv Vreegor.
Thailand Tiger Temple Location
Take the Sai yoke Road (highway number 323) going out of Kanchanaburi towards the Saiyoke waterfall. Wat Pa Luangta Bua Yannasampanno Forest Monastery is approximately 38 kilometers from Kanchanaburi city center. On reaching the Bangchak gas station on the left, the temple is around 6 kilometers further, on the right-hand side.
Visit the tiger temple's own website for more information, visitor comments and a location map.
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