Thailand’s Dodge Tiger Temple To Reopen Under New Name After Cruelty Reports

WAP reports that the temple, which operated under the business name Tiger Temple Co. Ltd, is planning to re-open under the new name Golden Tiger (Thailand) Co. Ltd, and has already been issued a provisional license by the government.

It won’t receive a zoo license, however, unless it meets 11 specific conditions within six months, which WAP has criticised for not including bans on breeding or tourist interactions.

It’s now calling on the Thai government to not issue the zoo license.

“Tiger farms have nothing to do with conservation – they just bring extreme suffering to these wild animals living in appalling conditions,” said Dr Jan Schmidt-Burbach, senior wildlife advisor at WAP.

“Tiger venues need to be stopped in their tracks because they clearly have links to the dark side of wildlife trafficking rings.”

“Tourists need to be aware that their once in a lifetime opportunity to get up close to a tiger causes a lifetime of suffering. A selfie with a tiger is cruel, not cool.”

The number of tigers used for entertainment in Thailand has increased by 33% over the last five years, a report released by the WAP last year said. One in ten tigers observed in captivity showed behavioural problems, like repetitive pacing and biting their tales, and 50% of the tigers were kept in cages with less than 20sqm per animal. 

Despite animal activists urging tourists to shun the Tiger Temple for years, prior to closure it had long been a popular spot for tourists to swing by and get a tiger selfie, which would inevitably end up in their Tinder / Facebook profile.

You can do YOUR part for animal protection by refusing to fuck anyone who meets the above description.