Wat Pha Luang Ta Bua-Tiger Temple







The Theravada Buddhist temple is located in the Saiyok district of Thailand's Kanchanaburi province, not far from the border with Myanmar, some 38 km north-west of Kanchanaburi along the 323 highway. It was founded in 1994 as a forest temple and sanctuary for numerous wild animals. In 1995 it received the Golden Jubilee Buddha Image, made of 80 kilograms of gold.



According to the abbot and others associated with the temple, in 1999, the temple received the first tiger cub, it had been found by villagers and died soon after. The story goes that several tiger cubs were later given to the temple over time, typically when the mothers had been killed by poachers, others who wanted to get rid of their tiger "pets" or those were under pressure to do so as laws and policies surrounding the keeping of protected species became more strict. As of 2007, over 21 cubs have been born at the temple and the total number of tigers is about 12 adult tigers and 4 cubs. As of late December 2009, the total number of tigers living at the temple has risen to almost 50.
The subspecies of these tigers is unknown as none of them have been DNA tested, but it is thought that they are Indochinese Tigers, except Mek (a Bengal Tiger). There is also a possibility that there may be some of the newly discovered Malayan Tigers and it is likely that many are cross breeds or hybrids.
They spend most of the time in cages, being fed with cooked chicken, beef and dry cat food. The meat is boiled to avoid giving the tigers a taste for blood[1] and also to kill the bird flu that may be present in raw fowl. According to the temple website the dry cat food replaces nutrients, such as taurine, that are lost when the meat is cooked.[2]
The tigers are washed and handled by Thai monks, international volunteers and local staff. Once a day they are walked on leashes to a nearby quarry. Originally they would roam around freely in this area but now, with the increase in visitors and the amount of tigers who sit in the canyon, they are chained for safety reasons. The staff closely guide visitors as they greet, sit with, and pet the cats. The staff keep the tigers under control and the abbot will intervene if the tiger gets agitated. Nervous tourists may also observe this from about 10 metres away. The temple claims the entry fee is for feeding and upkeep, and to fund the building of a larger tiger sanctuary which would allow the animals to live in an almost natural environment all day long. According to temple staff, it costs about 100 USD per tiger per day for their feeding and other care.
The Tiger Temple practices a different conservation philosophy than in the west. The temple opens daily for visitors at about 12pm, and the tigers are walked back to their enclosures at around 4pm. Due to the pressing need for income, the temple now charges 500 Baht admission. Day trips are also available from Bangkok. The temple now receives 300 to 600 visitors a day. There are donations boxes in various locations around the temple for those who wish to support the sanctuary. It is also possible for day visitors to join the volunteers in the tigers morning exercise programme although the cost for this is significantly more - 4500 Baht (fee correct as of January 2010).

Category:

114 comments:

ReptileX said...

Really wanna visit someday...

razortek said...

do what u want couse a pirate is free!You're a Pirate!!
cool!suppin bro :)
check both my blogs are interesting! ;)

Stav88os said...

very nice!

I support and follow u! :)

remzi said...

The tiger pic is beautiful
Keep em coming

Michele said...

The first pic is beautiful!

Naj said...

the first picture contradicts the second one! XD
the first one is menacing but the tiger on the second one look docile!

Name said...

Wow id love to go to thailand one day it must be beautiful

Viperman said...

so much history..i want a pet tiger XD

David said...

Showing my DAILY support I REALLY need yours aswell!

Mr. Bloggity said...

Really cool Post!

Skutt Panda PO said...

:)) Vipeman

Admin said...

Love tiger, want one !

Mr.Character said...

wow. tigers.

Slumph said...

that tiger looks harmonius =D

stackinsilver said...

wow tiger

CetaPara said...

you got to have balls of steel to be so relaxed next to a tiger. xD

Primitive said...

Your pictures always seem to amaze me... cool blog bro, keep up the good work im supporting you ;)

vibe said...

unreal man

kevinleeds said...

Maybe someday I'll actually be able to visit places like this. following

Joshua said...

Oneday I'll have to go there, looks completely amazing just like your post yesterday.

volksjager said...

The Temple looks stunning

Anonymous said...

That tiger is cool.

Jemz said...

Amazing how they can pet the tigers without getting bitten...

S!

Uwastudent said...

Never been to Thailand. Looks like i should go sometime

Anonymous said...

this is very beautiful. I must go to thailand.

Rawr said...

fuckin geat pics :D

grwestb said...

Great pictures, if I wasnt so broke all the time I'd totally visit Thailand!

Dr. Phun said...

Awesome tiger!

Come At Me Bro said...

I should go there!

Souf. said...

Awesome. I've always wanted to go there.

Light Weight Baby! said...

I like this.

ViNCENT said...

A friend of mine is living in Si Racha since two years! He says that it is awesome down there! He did send me pictures of temples like the ones in your post!

theleming said...

more than 80% of all tigers live in captivity in the united states, kinda funny

Ante Babaja said...

tiger is epic animal

chasityxo said...

omg i loveeeeee tigers :) i need to go there

Lewis said...

Great post mate. I love thailand.supp

Isaac J Holt said...

All I can say is "Fuck"

Shane said...

That's a really pretty picture

ramrod360 said...

Beautiful tiger..

Unknown said...

I have to visit thailand one day or another.. It seems so beautiful !

BIGPOPPA said...

Tigers are scary. Really scary.

Shelby Fox said...

I want to pet a tiger so bad!!

suzychen said...

Dude you're killing me by nostalgia here, I'm about to drop everything and go back out there and you show me this? You have some nerve my friend.

Savage Nugget said...

Awesome temple/tiger. :D

Red Baron said...

i wnat a pet tiger

Lewis Chan said...

not sure if i want to go there

Home Alone Stoned said...

dude, now i want to go to thailand :D

TSFan said...

that first pic has such amazing colors!

Jehrin said...

tigers are so sexy

Jimmy Volmer said...

This blog has quite the following!

Anonymous said...

I WANT A TIGER TOO :D

Dilly Skates said...

that tiger is scurrry

applecider said...

it looks so happy sitting on the monk's lap! :)

haiguize said...

holy shit again this place sounds awesome!

THE FAV LIST said...

99.9% of monks have epic kung fu skills. Even the old ones could bungfock the tiger without repercussion.

Johnny Washburn said...

Wanna visit some day, looks nice.

tienstormirk said...

stuff like this makes me want to travel.. hopefully I have the money for it

Orfeas said...

OH man Thailand looks fucking great... I ll visit Peru next year and i am so happy ;D

Peschken said...

INDURING SEX TOURISTS.

Walther said...

Cool post! Supporting.

Visit my blog(s) please :)

daniel. said...

so nioce.

Tesla Sands said...

Wow I know where I'm going on my next vacation. That first pic is stunning.

Themensquarters said...

wow Thailand is beautiful! thanks for the ride!

autor said...

I read on this place and for sure it's one of mine must-been-toes

lk clip said...

such a beautiful country

Parallel-Reality Hero said...

A wonderful post! Always a pleasure to check your blog out. Supporting daily!

buræquete said...

Supporting daily~~

Ante Babaja said...

new posts soon? i adore thailand

Teakay said...

Awww them tigers are so cute :3

Marco said...

amazing its my dream to visit thailand..i will someday when i have enough money lol

moxie said...

Nice blog bro!

kurina said...

I always wished for domestic tiger as a pet. Would be so much fun...

Unknown said...

I'm definately in love with those pictures..

PodMonkey said...

That temple is where Shang Tsung killed Chan Kang in the first Mortal Kombat movie. Good stuff.

Peter Shillsteen said...

Beautiful :D

shirou said...

i want to go there to see if my kung fu is better than theirs, i bet it is..

Airmac said...

wow, i'd totally dive into that pool :)

Discerning Gentleman said...

pretty interesting...

Much Poopies! said...

yeah baby! yeah BABY! YEEAARRH! >=D

Anonymous said...

nice post!;)
i like it;)
supportin & follow you;)

Danatoth said...

It's amazing that this kind of stuff exists in the world =0

razortek said...

do what u want couse a pirate is free!You're a Pirate!!
cool!suppin bro :)
check both my blogs are interesting! ;)

Anne on a mouse said...

I love that tiger picture.

Mr. Bloggity said...

Hey this temples cool, looking forward to a new post!

Jimmy Volmer said...

awesome post!

Bob said...

FUCK YEAH TIGERS

Food said...

I definitely want to go here sometime in my life.

Nerd Life said...

I like your blog's design!

bezzare said...

Those tigers are awesome, shame they are being extinct =(

netz3r0 said...

awesome stuff here!

Dilly Skates said...

fucking tigers man

MushroomElk said...

Can you really fuck everyone in thailand?

Copy"Bob" said...

cool blog. following. daily.

Jackbumper said...

Thanks mate, I also like this one!

Unknown said...

foarte frumos

Skunkfunk said...

Thailand is a very wonderful place indeed, that tiger is bad-ass btw

daniel. said...

great one.

The Geeks Paradise said...

Amazing photos!

Pig Disgusting said...

I'd love to go there.

StarWarsMadness said...

Love Thailand great feeling it is.
Join the Force Skutt and be a Jedi u Will.

nuttinbutapeanut said...

Wow...must be a nice place

iceonnice said...

I have heard of the temple before. Good choice for a blog post.

Skutt Panda PO said...

I have heard of the temple before. Good choice for a blog post.

Skutt Panda PO said...

foarte frumos

Skutt Panda PO said...

Thanks mate, I also like this one!

Skutt Panda PO said...

pretty interesting...

Skutt Panda PO said...

That temple is where Shang Tsung killed Chan Kang in the first Mortal Kombat movie. Good stuff.

Skutt Panda PO said...

new posts soon? i adore thailand

Skutt Panda PO said...

Wow I know where I'm going on my next vacation. That first pic is stunning.

Skutt Panda PO said...

Cool post! Supporting.

Visit my blog(s) please :)

Skutt Panda PO said...

Wanna visit some day, looks nice.

Skutt Panda PO said...

99.9% of monks have epic kung fu skills. Even the old ones could bungfock the tiger without repercussion.

Skutt Panda PO said...

it looks so happy sitting on the monk's lap! :)

Skutt Panda PO said...

This blog has quite the following!



Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...

THAI CUSINE



Submit Your Site To The Web's Top 50 Search Engines for Free!

Skutt Panda PO. Powered by Blogger.