Tiger Temple - Go or Don't Go?

If you accept and support that it is a tourist attraction and in no way a refuge with any hope of releasing tigers to the wild then go. Tong will make sure you have the best experience possible. Just don't be disillusioned.

They run a breeding program to ensure they can provide tourists with babies to feed and play with - there is no chance that tigers raised with human contact like that would ever survive in the wild, and their website saying their goal is to release the next generation to the wild just seems to be a statement to make people believe they are something other than the tourist attraction they are. A bit of research will reveal that under the best conditions of raising tigers in captivity with no human contact, release to the wild has failed.

In addition to the issues of misrepresentation of their motives and the ethical issues involved with visiting such a place, please also consider safety. In spite of being raised with extensive human contact, the tigers are not domesticated and can be unpredictable. I have seen reports of injuries, none major, but still requiring medical treatment.

I suppose whether you should visit or not depends on your motives. Don't go if you think you will be supporting a place with the best interest of the tigers at heart - it can't be in the best interest of the tigers to be used as photo props for a bunch of tourists day after day, and those cute babies you can play with and feed are being groomed for the same life.

If your motive is to touch a tiger and get a photo and nothing else, then you will be happy. You can do that there and by all reports, Tong can give you the best possible experience there.

Stand back!

absolutely go.... !!!! it was nothing like what the tree hugging, do-gooders have described in their negetive rants about the place... is it perfect, no, what is... does the head monk profit, probably.... does he sell cubs, maybe... will you ever get that close to wild animals, doubtful.... should you go---well yes and evaluate it for yourself and return here and give your thoughts to help others answer the same question...

it was clean, well managed and fun.... the animals all seem in excellent condition and were all treated well... yes they are chained, yes they are restrained---hell they are wild beasts...

the 1/2 day we spent there with tong was 2nd only to the 1/2 day we spent with her at the "secret place"....

a nice combo with the tiger temple is a visit to the orphanage in the forest.

take comfortable shoes and a hat and a cover up.....the sun is hot and there is little shade.... go early..

This website pretty much illustrates the "controversy".

http://www.tigertemple.co.uk/

When you read the opening page, you will realize what a terrible place the temple is. The bloggers' conclusion is based on what they "heard" and "read".

Yet, if one bothers to continue into their blog, you will find that, based on their actual experience volunteering at the temple, they thought is was a good place.

The great majority of the temple dissention is based on what people "hear" and "read", not what they actually know.

Thanks to all of you...we're going!

good decision

I went in June 2008.
For me it was an amazing experience.
I'm glad that you have decided to go.

The main activity I want to do at the Tiger Temple is feed the tiger cubs. I'm a tiny bit nervous about "walking" with and among the tigers, but I'm sure that will change once I get there.

Go-Tong took us here in 08-It was a wonderful experience. Tong is a delight. Please say hi from Chris & Don

There are a lot of unanswered questions about Tiger Temple.

There are also a lot of unquestioned answers!

It's not a slam-dunk decision, one way or the other. I think there are very good points to be made on both sides of this question. On balance, however, I say go. We did, and we're glad for the experience. I mean, where else can you do this?
http://onelittleworld.zenfolio.com/p8594150/hc3bb836#h1da1b924

BIG CAVEAT: the experience of going there with Tong made it significantly more interesting, more worthwhile and more enjoyable. Without her, I'm not as sure.

you will come away with amazing pics of you and the beasts...

being with the babies carries a hefty additional price tag i think, and a time commitment

Mr Go~ Thank you for the link to the photos...wow! I really appreciate you sharing them with us. This really makes us even more exited about going which I didn't think was possible!

My Thai wife will not allow the family to go to the Temple as she says the tigers and drugged and there have been accusations that they sell some to the Chinese tiger market trade....I don't think any of these rumors have been proven but I am happy to comply with my wife's wishes. And after visiting and living in Thailand for decades now, and seeing how horribly the Thai treat animals in general, I cannot imagine that this place could be any better....We prefer to see the wild ones...Here are some images of our recent tiger trip:

http://www.pbase.com/cokesmith/tigers

But, I have really enjoyed reading the various perspectives on this thread. It even got me doing some research and there are many interesting accusations and defenses of the Tiger Temple. Travelocity has a very long and interesting debate on the temple worth searching out and reading.

I don't know what the truth is but the temple is controversial for sure - no argument there! Hope you have a good time if you go.

i think everyone has to go and see for themselves....then and only then will you know for sure.... i am squarely in the go and see group

Just an often overlooked perspective ...

I have no "moral" issues with the place. Neither do I have any desire to visit. These are animals that, given a whim, can rip your arm off.

There is a reason such venues exist in Thailand, and it has nothing to do with the treatment of the animals.

If you go, go with the knowledge that you assume all risk. In Thailand, when you accept the liability waiver, it is a contract, not just a formality. They can not, and do not, "guarantee" your safety.

PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO ALL INSTRUCTIONS.

THe breeding program is illegal and the care of the tigers is substandard. You should have serious worries about safety too.
It now appears that the animals are property of the Thai courts or govt and not the monks who lost their rights when the courts closed the place several years ago. Unfortunately no-one thought through what to do about the animals so they have stayed where they are and continued to breed.
The place is run down and shabby and it is quite clear that it is nearer to a 19th century circus than a serious attempt to benefit any tigers.

If you enjoy seeing monks poke tigers in the testicles as a joke then you might find it worth a visit.
If you have any knowledge of wildlife conservation you will find the place to be a travesty.

PS - the instructions issued at the place are really a joke - they are the sort of comments that a Barnums show would make to keep the audience "on the edge of their seats" they have little or nothing to do with real safety or behaviour of the tigers as the monks have little or no idea them selves.
So as I said be very careful about safety there.

We had an unbelievable time there with Tong. We even got to lie down next to one of the big males who was sleeping on his back (exactly like our cats do when they are full and in the warm sun). The feeling of his body, the warmth, the muscles, the beating of his heart is something I will never forget. I didn't see any abuse of the tigers (with the possible exception of one of the monks putting a hat on one of the tigers who looked a bit put out, but took it in stride). We got there early thanks to Tong and got to hold and play with some of the babies (one even pooped on me!). Walking with the tigers was fine, but it was when we were down in the canyon with them and holding their heads in our laps that we really felt like we were with them. Are they sedated? Maybe, but it was also warm and sunny and they had just eaten, so they might have also been sleeping like cats do. And I never felt threatened or in danger, but being aware of your surroundings is probably a good thing.

Good news bad news.

Bad news - Thailand's population of Tigers in the wild is about 150 to 200. THese mostly live in western Thailand and are on the borders (Tigers unfortunately don't seem to know what country they are in).

Good news - a newly discovered population in Eastern Thailand has been sighted. So far about 12 animals have been identified.

Bad news - as soon as poachers find out where they are, they'll try to catch them as their carcasses are worth 10s of thousands of dollars.

Good news - conservationists (and hopefully police too) are on the look out.

Bad news - the maximum fine for poaching is only 1500 dollars (equivalent)

More bad news - any of you who think that by visiting the Tiger Temple your are helping the plight of tigers either in the wild or captivity you are mistaken. THe undocumented (and illegal) breeding program and the nature of their care there means that they can not only not be released into the wild, but their gene-pool is of no use as it is suspected they are hybrids and would actually harm the gene-pool of the sub-species in Thailand if they came into contact with any wild animals.

Good news - more and more people are becoming aware of the damaging effects of the Temple and several other Tiger Zoos" in Thailand. The "zoos" are in fact FARMS - these animals are bred to sell as parts in folk-"medicine" - the biggest client being the nouveau-riche of China.
Far from reducing the risk to tigers in the wild, this kind of farming increases the market for poached animals too.
several tigers are believed to have "gone missing" from the Tiger temple to be replaced by animals with the same name (quite apart from those bred at the Temple). Where and why these animals have gone must lead one to suspect that the temple is involved in trading the tigers - if so WHERE and for what purpose?

If you do visit the temple - research first - read up and then when you are there, look around and think about why those animals are there.

As I was about to say - there are some pretty dog safety issue at this place. On one visit a small foal broke loose and cantered down towards the the tigers. THe reaction of the tigers was immediate and disturbing. They all immediately focused on this animal and were obviously getting ready to pound if the opportunity presented itself. The Minders all set about restraining the animals and shook-ing away the foal. THe atmosphere was electric - you could see the worried faces of the minders and the other attendants running around. I think many were unaware of the potential pandemonium that was unrealised that time.

The people who look after these animals are not trained properly - they get their advice from the monks who know little or nothing themselves and if a serious incident did kick off there is little or nothing anyone can do ...nor are there any professional animal handlers to sort it out either.

Most of the tigers at the time were chained to the ground - what the chains are attached to is unclear - they are fastened to something beneath the dry earth - presumably a block of concrete. However these animas are arranged so that people can come very near or even into contact with them. Tigers are very unpredictable and in a situation as described above their reaction to anything close to them could have been quite deadly.

I think it is very unlikely that this kind of casual handling of the animals would e permitted in most countries.....this is quite apart from the ethos o the place which have to be regarded as extremely dubious

So is it safe to say - if you opt to go to the Tiger Temple, or any of the tiger shows, you are part of the problem?

It is safe to say that the more attention given to the temple, pro or con, means more business and further expansion.

I think the more is said about the temple the more people who never thought about it will realise there is a vast body of opinion that considers the place to be a sham and a con. If they then go they may well look at the place more critically than they would have otherwise.

PS - the Abbott seems to think that poking tigers in the testicles is an acceptable practice......I'd beg to differ