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-   -   Tiger Temple Finally Shut Down (https://www.fodors.com/community/asia/tiger-temple-finally-shut-down-1036660/)

cokesmith Feb 6th, 2015 03:34 AM

Tiger Temple Finally Shut Down
 
IF the reports we are hearing are in fact true, this horrible, horrible place has been finally closed down. A pathetic attempt to cover illegal tiger trade as a tourist attraction, the Tiger Temple was evidently raided today. I cannot believe it took this long sadly. This disgusting tiger hell conned how many hundreds of thousands of tourists in to thinking the joint had legitimacy? Good for the new government for removing this national disgrace. I am hoping it is truly gone forever.

http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/tiger-temple-raided

crellston Feb 6th, 2015 05:22 AM

Good news indeed. But what "new government"?

Kathie Feb 6th, 2015 07:22 AM

I'm glad to hear this.

cokesmith Feb 6th, 2015 03:45 PM

The military dictatorship that has been in charge for nearly a year now...

khunwilko Feb 8th, 2015 04:32 AM

Sadly as far as I'm aware, it is not true.
The temple was raided the other day.

http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/tiger-temple-raided

It appeared to be a rather bungled attempt and the motivation was to say the least suspect.

As for closing I've not heard anything about that, or how it could be achieved. the raid was concentrating on possible dealing in endangered wildlife - to-wit some birds and a pair of Jackals. Unfortunately they turned up without a warrant and were told to come back when they had one. When they returned the "jackals" had disappeared and the Abbot was in Bangkok.

it now looks as if tat is the end of it - as someone has called in some favours and the press and everyone else seems to have gone very quiet.

the temple is a travesty - it misleads the public as to their conservation credentials, it is potentially very damaging to the future of wild tigers and they seem to be completely unaware of scientific approaches to housing and welfare of animals in particular their tigers.

however simply raiding the place or expecting to close it down is quite frankly pie-in-the -sky. especially in Thailand where such a project is bound to be overwhelmed by incompetence and corruption.

what is needed is a civilised regime change - a handing over of responsibility by the monks to a well-funded global organisation that is capable of making the correct decisions about winding the place down. ....and instigating immediate measures to end the public interaction withe animals, the inappropriate diet etc etc...

One thing is certain THESE ANIMALS CAN NEVER BE RELEASED INTO THE WILD - they need to be housed in secure but large premises - which although cheaper than releasing the animals will be hugely expensive.

So riad? Well yes except nothing to do with the tigers, apparently.
Certainly it brings the temple out into the open and poses questions about the motives of those running te place, but a happy ending for the Tigers??? - No! That is a long way off.

khunwilko Feb 8th, 2015 05:37 PM

Furthermore I don't think the government had much to do with this. These sort of actions are usually reprisals for some "misunderstanding" that involves the movement of money - or lack of it....or loss of face.
Wildlife Friends of Thailand was raided a few years ago just after the founder Edwin wiek had made some very disparaging remarks about those running the Keang Krachan park and the death of elephants.
if the Abbot was particularly inline with the previous elected government then I suppose it is possible the current admin may seek some rom of retribution, but it looks to be that the operation took place o a much lower level....and I believe those involved have been suspended? Although at present I can't find anything in the EL press that follows up on the aftermath of this raid.

zoso Feb 10th, 2015 07:30 AM

Yes, that is correct.I've read the same here in Bangkok just raided not shut down.all tourist driven.
Same thing with the Elephant Trekking camps and forced breeding.
Did you know there is a Zoo in a clothing mall in Bangkok.its called Pata Mall.
On the 6th floor. They have a poor Gorilla,sitting in a cement cage all in glass.
as well as 3 Orangutang's in a hell hole bare cement cage. So many animals suffering there!

People need to educate themselfs quickly or maybe they don't really care.

khunwilko Feb 10th, 2015 03:30 PM

At present Thailand has a dismal record as regards animal welfare and conservation. There are virtually no laws regarding preservation or treatment of wildlife and only one recent law regarding domestic animals - this is why it is so hard to regulate or prosecute these tourist "attractions" as the laws simply don't exist.

khunwilko Feb 12th, 2015 10:19 PM

It will come as no surprise to hear that the temple has been given the "all clear" by the authorities and can continue as per normal.

i think it is a sad reflection on Thailand, the tourist industry and the general attitude of the country to international concern about animal welfare in general in Thailand.

the longer it lasts the bigger the problems it will cause.

The next step will be for Thailand to announce the final extinction of its wild population of Tigers. SHAME SHAME SHAME!

cokesmith Feb 13th, 2015 03:31 AM

Yes - I just got back to civilization today and read that the all clear was given. So sad but it was predictable for sure. For a nation that pretends so well to be Buddhist, the treatment of animals of all forms is absolutely reprehensible.

khunwilko Feb 14th, 2015 04:50 AM

Suffering is part of the way to Nirvana....

Smeagol Feb 14th, 2015 11:56 PM

I think perhaps it's a little harsh to say " a nation that pretends to be Buddhist" many of them actually are.....

khunwilko Feb 15th, 2015 01:07 AM

"Professes" to follow Buddhism? Actually I find that Buddhism is often at the root of what other countries perceive as cruelty. The concept of taking any life or suffering to gain enlightenment and reincarnation and the possibility you may "come back" as an animal may to a greater or lesser extent affect the way Thai people interact with animals - some however seem to have a more Chinese attitude which shows little empathy for any living creature that is little more that a commodity to be eaten.

however in the end there are sound scientific reasons to preserve species as the eco-systems they need are needed by us as sources of water, flood control, climate control and barriers against pollution.

thursdaysd Feb 15th, 2015 04:45 AM

I, too, have been tempted to give Buddhism a "pass" compared to other religions. The persecution of Muslim minority people in Myanmar is giving me second thoughts.

cokesmith Feb 16th, 2015 06:24 PM

True practitioners are far and few between here. Not sure if I have ever met one actually in Thailand. Not to say they aren't here, but I've just yet to meet anyone... Even my wife, born an raised Buddhist here in Thailand, is disgusted with how things work here. If anything, I am probably a bit more laid back in my criticism than she is... Quite a bit more actually. I used to be less cynical here compared to back home in the states with respect to the religion but after seeing long term now how things really are, my cynicism is about equal....And the Tiger Temple is just one example of why...

khunwilko Feb 17th, 2015 08:26 AM

All religions are used by all sorts to justify their behaviour.....whether it's fanaticism or just "getting away with" something like the temple.

The majority religion in Thailand is predominantly Theravada Buddhism, the oldest (most conservative type) ....but it mingles freely with a dash of Hinduism and a lot of Animism. This mish-mash actually reminds be of Christianity in the form of the kind of Catholicism in places like Central/South America or even Ireland where primitive superstition is mingled, used or even encouraged by the main religion to keep the populace in line.

In Thailand appearances are deceptive - one sees modern hotels and resorts but fails to recognise the strong co-existence of belief systems that frankly beggar belief amongst us from the west.

When the PM says he's been subjected to "black magic" no-one bats an eyelid, offices in hi-rise buildings are completely refurbished to allow dragons to flow freely through and traffic deaths are blamed on "bad spirits".

Faced with this kind of mentality even amongst the rich and powerful, it is very difficult to make a reasoned and scientific argument about conservation - especially when some of the people you are talking to quite clearly believe that eating a tiger’s penis will make them more virile, stronger and successful

cokesmith Jun 1st, 2016 01:19 AM

Just in case there was any doubt this place was a major trafficking vehicle for tiger parts...

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/gene...temple-freezer

Absolutely horrible


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