People who watch Animal planet, a TV channel I watch sometimes, may have heard about this. I felt touched seeing thiese images.
Somewhere in Thailand, there is a buddhist Temple, the monks are taking care of and -in a a very natural way and a beautiful meditative environment- are raising tigers. At the moment there are 16 tigers there.
"The Tiger Temple or Wat Pha Luang Ta Bua is a Theravada Buddhist temple in Thailand has been a sanctuary for many endangered animals, including several tigers that walk around freely once a day and can be petted by visiting tourists. The temple received several tiger cubs where the mothers had been killed by poachers. As of 2007, over 21 cubs have been born at the temple and the total number of tigers is about 12 adult tigers and 4 cubs.
The tigers are tamed by being fed with cooked meat to avoid giving them a taste for blood.
The staff keep the tigers under control and the abbot will intervene if the tiger gets agitated. They are treated as family members in the temple and visitors are asked to give a donation if they want to take photos with the tigers'
I consider this good news and it is beautiful what these monks are showing us..
wild animals can be loving towards people when they come in touch with balanced and positive people..
Wild animals are not necessarily violent or agressive.
People have done so much harm to animals, especially to tigers and it is beautiful to see people manage to give something back to the animal world.
It is no surprise to me the people doing the giving here are meditators, in this case Buddhist monks...
Enjoy these remarkable pictures.
Saturday 27 September 2008
People helping tigers.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1 comment:
With regards to the notorious Tiger Temple in Kanchanaburi, Thailand - following complaints from tourists and volunteers about tigers being mistreated there, Care for the Wild International (CWI) undertook an intensive two year investigation. The resulting CWI report reveals illegal wildlife trade, animal cruelty, false conservation claims and visitor safety risks at the Temple.
You can read the report at: http://www.careforthewild.com/projects.asp?detail=true&I_ID=580&mypage=Reports
This issue has widespread media coverage:
CWI's press release - "Illegal tiger trade, cruelty and human health hazards at famous tourist destination":
http://www.careforthewild.com/files/tt_news_release%2020-06-08.pdf
"Black market tigers linked to Thai Temple, Reports says"
National Geographic News, 20 June 2008:
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/06/080620-tiger-temple.html
"Thai tiger temple a con job, says wildlife group"
The Straits Times, 21 June 2008:
http://travel.asiaone.com/Travel/News/Story/A1Story20080623-72311.html
"UK wildlife group slams Tiger Temple"
Bangkok Post, 27 June 2008:
http://www.bangkokpost.com/270608_News/27Jun2008_news14.php
"Danish tour operator boycotts well-known Thai tourist attraction"
ScandAsia Denmark, 7 July 2008:
http://www.scandasia.com/viewNews.php?coun_code=dk&news_id=4474
Canada: CBC National News, 9 July 2008:
http://www.cbc.ca/thecurrent/2008/200807/20080709.html
"Danes join boycott of tiger temple"
The Nation, 11 July 2008
http://nationmultimedia.com/2008/07/11/politics/politics_30077848.php
"New report says Thai Temple misleads visitors, abuses tigers"
Ethical Traveller, July 2008:
http://www.ethicaltraveler.org/news_story.php?id=1101
"Paradise Lost"
The Star, 15 July 2008
http://thestar.com.my/lifestyle/story.asp?file=/2008/7/15/lifefocus/15
35960&sec=lifefocus
Spiegel article (in German):
http://www.spiegel.de/wissenschaft/natur/0,1518,562903,00.html
Tigers malnourished, illegal breeding, kept in sweltering temperatures 40 degrees or more
“It’s a travesty”
http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Thew-Tiger-Temple-Travesty-t140483.html
Additionally, Animal Planet TV channel have now dropped their programme on the Temple.
Post a Comment