Wildlife guide
The perfect introduction to getting your head around the extraordinary life on earth, and where to go to find it.
Tiger temple in Thailand review
Thailand’s tiger tourism industry has often drawn controversy, whether through allegations of unethical breeding or keeping animals in close confinement, leading to deaths from fast-spreading infections. In 2016 the infamous Tiger Temple in Kanchanaburi was closed down after serious concerns were raised, including by us at Responsible Travel, about the welfare of the animals.
The Wat Pa Luangta Bua Yannasampanno Forest Monastery, more commonly known as the Tiger Temple, was a popular tourist attraction in Thailand. The ethos of the Tiger Temple was that tourism paid for the care of several tigers kept at the facility. Some of the tigers were taken daily to ‘Tiger Canyon’ where tourists paid to pet and have their photos taken with the tigers. Tourist numbers were reported to average between 100 and 300 visitors per day. The tigers were kept in the canyon area for about three hours a day, where there was virtually no shade (except for what was provided to tourists) and temperatures rose well above 40°C in the sun.
Evidence emerged that the monks from the temple were engaged in a system of tiger-breeding, and when police eventually launched a raid, they found the bodies of around 40 cubs in freezers, as well as various other body parts. It isn’t known how long they had been there or what they would have been used for. Criminal charges were brought against the monks at the Tiger Temple, and the authorities claimed the tigers were rehomed in state-owned sanctuaries.
Of the 147 tigers that were rescued and rehomed, more than half of them had died within three years. It’s likely that genetic inbreeding left them susceptible to viruses. We don’t know what happened to the rest of them, or what ensued from the criminal proceedings against the monks. We do know that unethical tiger tourism sadly continues in Thailand.
We put this page together to share the story of the Tiger Temple, and to help raise awareness of animal welfare issues in tourism around the world.
The Wat Pa Luangta Bua Yannasampanno Forest Monastery, more commonly known as the Tiger Temple, was a popular tourist attraction in Thailand. The ethos of the Tiger Temple was that tourism paid for the care of several tigers kept at the facility. Some of the tigers were taken daily to ‘Tiger Canyon’ where tourists paid to pet and have their photos taken with the tigers. Tourist numbers were reported to average between 100 and 300 visitors per day. The tigers were kept in the canyon area for about three hours a day, where there was virtually no shade (except for what was provided to tourists) and temperatures rose well above 40°C in the sun.
Evidence emerged that the monks from the temple were engaged in a system of tiger-breeding, and when police eventually launched a raid, they found the bodies of around 40 cubs in freezers, as well as various other body parts. It isn’t known how long they had been there or what they would have been used for. Criminal charges were brought against the monks at the Tiger Temple, and the authorities claimed the tigers were rehomed in state-owned sanctuaries.
Of the 147 tigers that were rescued and rehomed, more than half of them had died within three years. It’s likely that genetic inbreeding left them susceptible to viruses. We don’t know what happened to the rest of them, or what ensued from the criminal proceedings against the monks. We do know that unethical tiger tourism sadly continues in Thailand.
We put this page together to share the story of the Tiger Temple, and to help raise awareness of animal welfare issues in tourism around the world.
How we heard about the Tiger Temple in Thailand
The poor animal welfare standards at the Tiger Temple were first brought to our attention when a concerned traveler sent us a report from their visit to the popular tourist attraction. Her vacation wasn't booked via Responsible Travel but she contacted us as she was keen to tell us of her experience and raise awareness of the issue.
A quick search on the internet found that many tourists enjoyed their visits to the attraction but other websites listed ways that the animal care at the Tiger Temple was below standard. A YouTube search found many videos of children sitting on tigers and people petting these unpredictable wild animals. It’s likely the tigers would have been sedated to make this safe, another act of cruelty.
We then approached several of our partners in Asia to ask their opinion on the Tiger Temple, and some expressed their concerns as to where the tigers would go if the facility did not exist. The main problems at the Tiger Temple, to our view, were:
Severe animal welfare concerns including a poor standard of accommodation, lack of appropriate environments, veterinary problems and deliberate physical abuse of the tigers to make them compliant.
Despite its claims, the Temple made no discernible contribution to tiger conservation nor would it ever have been able to, due to the unknown subspecies of the tigers. The animals could never have survived in the wild, even had they been released.
Visitors’ safety was compromised due to close proximity with the tigers.
Although we ourselves never offered any vacations that visited the Tiger Temple, we felt the issues were serious enough to take action. We spoke to Born Free, who although they had not at the time done a full investigation, already had serious concerns about the Tiger Temple. We also raised the subject with our 400+ members to help spread the word.
A quick search on the internet found that many tourists enjoyed their visits to the attraction but other websites listed ways that the animal care at the Tiger Temple was below standard. A YouTube search found many videos of children sitting on tigers and people petting these unpredictable wild animals. It’s likely the tigers would have been sedated to make this safe, another act of cruelty.
We then approached several of our partners in Asia to ask their opinion on the Tiger Temple, and some expressed their concerns as to where the tigers would go if the facility did not exist. The main problems at the Tiger Temple, to our view, were:
Animal welfare issues in tourism – what you can do
The Tiger Temple is gone, but there are still many serious problems in the way animals are used and exploited in the tourism industry – in Thailand, and everywhere else.It’s easy to feel powerless when it comes to fighting abuse like this, but in fact tourists have a very effective weapon at their disposal – the review. People booking a vacation, or an activity, put a great deal of weight in genuine reviews from other people. So if you see an issue, talk about it every chance you get – on forums, on review sites like TripAdvisor, and in feedback forms from your vacation provider. It won’t happen immediately, but when reputation and profit are on the line, a groundswell of poor reviews can force change.
More information on animal welfare issues in tourism
More information on our views on animal welfare issues
More Tiger safari articles
We capture a lot of details in this gudie, but we can’t capture that feeling of seeing into the eye of a tiger.
There are several places in the world where this elusive and endangered creature still roams.
It's worth remembering that it's always the tiger who calls the shots in the forest.
Boasting between 60 and 70 tigers within its modest footprint, Bandhavgarh is one of the best places in India to see tigers.
Come for beautiful landscapes, a growing population of tigers and the atmospheric Ranthambore Fort presiding over the park.
Big, wild and beautiful, Kanha National Park is home to around 100 Bengal tigers, plus an abundance of other wildlife.
Whilst it's not the best known wildlife park, Pench has managed to keep its visitor numbers low, a big advantage.
Tiger safaris in Nepal explore Bardia and Chitwan national parks in the Terai region bordering the Himalayas.
At Responsible Travel we are lucky to work with some of the world’s most dedicated conservationists.
Dig a little deeper into the detail of traveling to see tigers in the wild.
Read about the issues affecting tigers today, from habitat loss to poaching and learn what conservation goes on.
More relevant guides
