Tiger Temple in Kanchanaburi Thailand

Kanchanaburi tour and Package Tour

KANCHANABURI PROVINCE is one of the oldest and most exciting tourist destinations of Thailand. It is well known for its divine ambience, archaeological relics, delightful lakes, lush forests and serene natural beauty. As in other parts of Thailand, Kanchanaburi is also known for its divine natural beauty and wildlife.
The most prominent tourist destinations are the numerous national parks and beautiful waterfalls of this region. Kanchanaburi Province Safari Park, Thong Pha Phum National Park, Lam Khlong Ngu National Park, Tham Than Lot National Park, Sri Nakarin National Park, Erawan National Park, Khao Laem National Park, Sai Yok National Park are some of the biggest parks available here. All these parks are home to various African and Asian animals, rare species of birds and exotic flora. The majestic waterfalls in Kanchanaburi are the most fascinating aspects of this province. Kanchanaburi has some of the biggest waterfalls in Thailand including Thung Nang Khruan Waterfall, Pha Tat Waterfall, Pha Suwan Waterfall, Kroeng Krawia Waterfall, Takhian Thong Waterfall and the most spectacular Namtok Kateng Cheng. Kanchanaburi offers numerous opportunities for soft adventure like bird watching, camping, jungle trekking and elephant trekking within the various national parks, rafting and canoeing on the rivers of Kanchanaburi, scuba diving and rock climbing. Every year a mega carnival is held on the banks of River Kwae Bridge during November. Celebrations unfold during the carnival, which include exhibitions, archaeological displays and folk shows and colorful cultural activities. Apart from this, the other major celebrations in this region are Mineral Water and Waterfall Bathing Day and Boat and Raft People’s Day.The most convenient and inexpensive mode of travel around Kanchanaburi Province is train. Trains leave from the Kanchanburi Railway Station to Namtok Railway station. Also ferry services are available for those tourists who are keen to explore the beauty of the river and its banks. There are numerous restaurants and eateries spread in the area, which serve excellent Thai, Chinese and European foods. There are abundant hotels providing accommodation at affordable and economical rates depending on the budget of the tourists.
TIGER TEMPLE KANCHANABURI THAILAND
Tiger Temple, or Wat Pha Luang Ta Bua, is a Buddhist temple in Western Thailand which keeps numerous animals, among them several tigers that can be petted by visitors.
The Theravada Buddhist temple is located in the Saiyok district of Thailand's Kanchanaburi province, not far from the border with Myanmar, some 38 km north-west of Kanchanaburi along the 323 highway. It was founded in 1994 as a forest temple and sanctuary for numerous wild animals. In 1995 it received the Golden Jubilee Buddha Image, made of 80 kilograms of gold.
According to the abbot and others associated with the temple, in 1999, the temple received the first tiger cub, it had been found by villagers and died soon after. The story goes that several tiger cubs were later given to the temple over time, typically when the mothers had been killed by poachers, others who wanted to get rid of their tiger "pets" or those were under pressure to do so as laws and policies surrounding the keeping of protected species became more strict. 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. As of late December 2009, the total number of tigers living at the temple has risen to almost 50.
The subspecies of these tigers is unknown as none of them have been DNA tested, but it is thought that they are Indochinese Tigers, except Mek (a Bengal Tiger). There is also a possibility that there may be some of the newly discovered Malayan Tigers and it is likely that many are cross breeds or hybrids.
They spend most of the time in cages, being fed with cooked chicken, beef and dry cat food. The meat is boiled to avoid giving the tigers a taste for blood[1] and also to kill the bird flu that may be present in raw fowl. According to the temple website the dry cat food replaces nutrients, such as taurine, that are lost when the meat is cooked. The tigers are washed and handled by Thai monks, international volunteers and local staff. Once a day they are walked on leashes to a nearby quarry. Originally they would roam around freely in this area but now, with the increase in visitors and the amount of tigers who sit in the canyon, they are chained for safety reasons. The staff closely guide visitors as they greet, sit with, and pet the cats. The staff keep the tigers under control and the abbot will intervene if the tiger gets agitated. Nervous tourists may also observe this from about 10 metres away. The temple claims the entry fee is for feeding and upkeep, and to fund the building of a larger tiger sanctuary which would allow the animals to live in an almost natural environment all day long. According to temple staff, it costs about 100 USD per tiger per day for their feeding and other care.
The Tiger Temple practices a different conservation philosophy than in the west. The temple opens daily for visitors at about 12pm, and the tigers are walked back to their enclosures at around 4pm. Due to the pressing need for income, the temple now charges 500 Baht admission. Day trips are also available from Bangkok. The temple now receives 300 to 600 visitors a day. There are donations boxes in various locations around the temple for those who wish to support the sanctuary. It is also possible for day visitors to join the volunteers in the tigers morning exercise programme although the cost for this is significantly more - 4500 Baht (fee correct as of January 2010).

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