Thailand Tiger Temple

In 1994, down a long dirt road in a generally remote, forested area of Kanchanaburi, Phra Bhusit Khantitaro, better known as Luang Ta Chan, decided to build a temple. Regardless of his original intent, shortly after establishing Wat Paluangtabua Yannasampanno, Luang Ta Chan began to discover the true purpose of the temple while collecting alms in a nearby village.

A villager approached the monk, explaining that he had discovered a wild chicken that had been injured. Although it had only one eye and one leg, he did not want to kill or eat the chicken so he asked the monk to take it from him. Luang Ta Chan complied and brought the injured fowl back to the Wat.

With clearly animated glee, Luang Ta Chan recalled how the chicken (a rooster) must have been a leader of the wild chicken community. Following the call of the injured rooster, dozens of other wild chickens began to arrive. Soon they had all established residency on the monastery grounds.

Shortly thereafter, a cow, its hind-quarters pierced by a hunter’s spear, managed to drag itself by its front legs to the incipient sanctuary. Likewise, a wild boar, whose back was broken after being struck by a car, found its way to the temple. The cow and boar both recovered and found a home at Wat Paluang Yannasampanno.

As the local community heard of the miraculous attraction animals had for this sacred place, more people began to send unwanted or injured animals to the temple grounds. In one instance, a farmer, unable to maintain his stock of cattle, gave them to the temple. Other livestock were spared from going to the slaughterhouse and released in the compound for merit making. Soon, in addition to cows and chickens, the 438 rai (175 acre) land surrounding the Wat became the home to over 2000 animals, including pigs, horse, deer, goats, antelope, peacocks, gibbons, and a leopard.

Then, in February 1999, tribal farm workers killed a mother tiger that had been eating local livestock near the Thai-Burmese border. They found her cub and reportedly planned to kill and stuff the baby tiger. However, because of a change in heart resulting from their unsuccessful attempt to kill the cub, they brought the injured tiger to the temple. Luang Ta Chan named her Pa Yu (Thunderstorm), and attempted to nurse the dying cub back to health. Unfortunately, her injuries were too severe and Pa Yu died 5 months later. Luang Ta Chan performed the burial ceremony and laid the cub to rest beneath a banyan tree.

Over the weeks and months following Pa Yu’s death, more injured or abandoned tiger cubs were brought to the monastery. First, two male cubs were rescued from poachers, then local villagers presented two others, and finally border patrol officers saved four female cubs to bring the tiger pride into balance.

Soon the temple became known as the Wild Animal Rescue Center and Tiger Conservation Project. A wall was built around the compound to help protect the animals. Within the walled sanctuary the majority of the animals roam freely, while the tigers spend most of their days in co-joined cages while they await the construction of their own individually cordoned off section of the sanctuary. Nevertheless, each afternoon at 4 p.m. the monks release the tigers from their cages and march them in single file to an isolated area of the reserve. Here the tigers are free to exercise their legs, roll in the dirt, and in general, behave like their miniature cousins, house-cats; stretching out upside down, yawning lazily, and playfully wrestling with each other.

Of course, standing 10 unobstructed yards from two giant, man-eating beasts having a go at each other is a bit disquieting. It is, however, also a very moving experience standing amongst seven large tigers in this quiet and natural environment. Besides, having been raised by humans, the tigers seem, by and large, disinterested in visitors, who can even pose next to the tigers for photographs. Indeed, the red dirt and complimenting orange of the monks’ robes and tigers’ stripes makes it both a tranquil and very photogenic scene.

Today, the sanctuary is not only maintaining a refuge for orphaned, wild tigers, but also breeding the tigers to help preserve the endangered felines. Sang Tawan (Sunshine), mistrustful of humans after having her nose cut when captured by Karen villagers, has given birth to four cubs over the past year. Her first two cubs, now age nine months, were raised directly by the temple staff, as Sang Tawan appeared not to know how to care for them. Her next litter of two was born four months later and the pair successfully nursed off their mother. Unfortunately, both of the cubs contracted an illness, apparently from contact with a visitor, and only five-month-old Fa Mai (New Day) has survived.

Since visitor contributions are the main source of income for the sanctuary, it seems necessary to allow these visitors to interact with the young tiger cubs. Feeding these enormous felines (weighing up to 180kg) a steady diet of dog food costs the reserve about 3,000 baht a day. Constructing new quarters for the tigers will cost a great deal more. Mandatory visitor contributions (farang) are 100 baht, but the conservancy also accepts greatly needed donations through direct deposit and with sales of postcards and other tourist memorabilia.

While some may argue that the tigers should not be kept in captivity, having been raised by humans, these tigers would have great difficulty surviving in the wild. Luang Ta Chan, acknowledging that his “pet” wild animals would not survive in the real wilderness, is planning to develop the area behind the temple into a 30 rai (12 acre) forest reserve to be known as “Tiger Island.” There, these well-pampered, semi-wild animals will be set free to live their lives in a more natural environment. Groups of researchers will be invited to study their adaptation behavior and when new generations of tigers are strong and “wild” again, they will be released into the Tung Yai Naresuan National Park.

Regardless of one’s opinion on how, or even if, the tigers should be stabled, considering that there are only an estimated 150-200 Indochinese tigers living in the wild in Thailand, the Tiger Conservation Project’s efforts to successfully raise seven adult tigers and breed three others is an honorable accomplishment. With encroachment on their land by farmers and developers, and poachers continuing to hunt them down, Thailand’s tiger population is in need of assistance such as that provided by Luang Ta Chan and the Tiger Conservation Project. If you have an opportunity to go and see these magnificent creatures, your donations will be greatly appreciated.

Wat Paluangtabua Yannasampanno is located in Sai Yok District, Kanchanaburi, approximately 37 kilometers along highway 323. In addition to preserving wildlife, the temple serves to propagate Buddhism and provide a serene environment for practicing meditation. Accommodation is available for those interested in meditation. Individuals wishing to make contributions or practice meditation can contact the temple at 03-453-1557( or visit the temple’s Thai-language web site: www.boonheng.com.