This archive report was first published on 16 September 2019.
Published on September 16, 2019, a Thai temple's tiger attraction has been marred by controversy and tragedy. The Wat Pha Luang Ta Bua temple in Kanchanaburi province was once a popular tourist destination where visitors could pay to take photos with dozens of tigers.
However, in 2016, park officials began a lengthy operation to remove the big cats amid allegations of mismanagement and exploitation. The operation was sparked by the discovery of dozens of dead cubs kept in freezers, with claims that the carcasses were being sold for a profit.
The surviving adults were taken to two breeding stations in Ratchaburi province, but only 61 of the 147 have survived so far. According to park officials, the deaths are linked to genetic problems caused by in-breeding, which posed risks to the tigers' body and immune system.
Many of the tigers suffered from tongue paralysis, breathing problems, and lack of appetite, leading to fatal seizures. Conservationists have questioned whether the authorities looked after the seized animals appropriately, with small, cramped cages enabling the spread of disease.
"It could be linked to in-breeding," said Pattarapol Maneeon, of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation. "They had genetic problems which posed risks to body and immune system."
Legal cases against the temple are ongoing, and critics say that cash often trumps animal welfare at many tourist attractions in Thailand.
