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- Famed Thai temple-Temple of Tigers
Temples are traditional sanctuaries for stray dogs, but the presence of the tigers raised eyebrows, especially when photos showed monks riding the animals and engaging in other horseplay with them. Buddhist monks are supposed to act soberly and modestly in all aspects of their lives.
They still come out at noon and play with the animals in what has come to be a show for visitors.
The temple in the western province of Kanchanaburi began keeping tigers when it agreed to take care of seven Bengal tigers seized in a wildlife bust nearby in 2001. It now houses 143 tigers and cubs, a homegrown menagerie.
"The tigers are living in quite healthy conditions. They are well taken care of," said Cherdchai Jariyapanya, director of the regional office of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation. "They have had microchips embedded in them and the department has been informed every time a new cub is born." The chips contain information about the beasts' lineage and medical history, and are also used to help combat trafficking.
Animal rights activists have expressed concerns about the welfare of animals at tourist attractions across Thailand, which has popular elephant camps, monkey shows and tiger farms.
Thai wildlife protection officers said they found no mistreatment of more than 100 tigers housed at a Buddhist temple that is a popular tourist attraction, though charges have been pressed for keeping rare birds there.
About 50 officials from the wildlife department and local religious affairs office, along with soldiers, made a three-hour inspection on Thursday of the Luangtamahabua Buddhist temple compound, famous for its tame-looking big cats living alongside Buddhist monks.
The so-called "Tiger Temple," which is virtually a petting zoo for visitors willing to muster up some courage, had been accused of drugging the creatures to keep them tame, allegations that the monks and the veterinarian who takes care of the animals have denied.
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