Forty tiger cubs found in Tiger Temple freezer in Thailand

FORTY tiger cubs have been discovered in a freezer at a Thai Buddhist temple, which is a popular tourist attraction. WARNING: Graphic content

Wildlife authorities in Thailand raided a Buddhist temple where 137 tigers were kept, following accusations the monks were illegally breeding and trafficking endangered animals. Picture: Getty

FORTY tiger cubs have been discovered in a freezer at a Thai Buddhist temple, which is a popular tourist attraction.

Graphic photos from Thailand’s controversial Tiger Temple have emerged, showing the tiger carcasses lying on the ground.

WARNING: Photos may be distressing for some readers

The Buddhist temple in Kanchanaburi province, west of Bangkok, has 137 tigers and has become a tourist destination where visitors come and regularly take selfies with the animals.

A sedated tiger lies in a cage at the Tiger Temple in Saiyok district in Kanchanaburi province. Picture: AP

Police and wildlife officials raided the temple and have started an operation to remove all the living tigers, the BBC reports.

The site is currently closed to the public.

“They must be of some value for the temple to keep them,” Adisorn Nuchdamrong, from Thailand’s Department of National Parks told Reuters.

“But for what is beyond me.”

Thai DNP officers observe the carcasses of 40 tiger cubs and a bear found undeclared at the Tiger Temple. Picture: Getty

The temple has been accused of wildlife trafficking and animal cruelty, and Thai authorities are currently relocating the adult tigers.

Thai DNP officers load a sedated tiger onto a truck at the Tiger Temple. Picture: AP

A post on the Tiger Temple Facebook account addressed claims of illegal trading and animal welfare issues back in March this year.

It stated that the tigers already had a high infant mortality rate and those tiger cubs who died were frozen instead of being cremated.

Thai DNP veterinarian officers tend to a sedated tiger at the Wat Pha Luang Ta Bua Tiger Temple. Picture: Getty

“There are rumours and allegations constantly being spread on the internet about Tiger Temple. For years many were left unanswered, as the Buddhist way is to keep silent and not engage a fight. However now with a lot more focus on the Temple, it is time to respond,” the Facebbook statement read.

Wildlife officials carry a sedated tiger on a stretcher at the Tiger Temple. Picture: AP

“Cubs do occasionally die for various reasons … in the past, as per Buddhist customs, these tiger cubs were cremated,” the Facebook post also said.

“In 2010, the ex-vet of Tiger Temple changed this policy. Instead of cremation, the deceased cubs were preserved in jars or kept frozen.

Wildlife officials sedate a tiger at the Tiger Temple. Picture: AP

“We have documented all the deaths from 2010 and have photographic evidence of them still being within the temple.”

Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation officials plan to remove more tigers from the temple and move them to a state-owned sanctuary.

Thai DNP officers carry a sedated tiger outside its cage at the Wat Pha Luang Ta Bua Tiger Temple. Picture: Getty

In another Facebook post from May 28, The Tiger Temple claims “the welfare of the tigers” at the state-owned sanctuary facility “is well below that at the Tiger Temple”.

They posted a video on Facebook of one of their tigers known as Dawie, who was moved to the facility.

“As you know, ten of our tigers have been relocated to The DNP facility in Ratchaburi. Many people falsely believe this move is to do with animal welfare. This is far from the truth.

The welfare of the tigers at the DNP facility is well below that at the Tiger Temple,” the Facebook post read.

In the Facebook post, they also alleged: “He has huge open wounds on his cheekbones, above his eyes and on his nose. These are all caused by extreme stress and possible boredom; beginnings of stereotypical behaviour. When we tried to notify the carers of this alarming problem, they were uninterested, refused to come over and even stated that this was normal for our tigers. This is not normal for our tigers whatsoever. Our tigers are used to huge open spaces and freedom.”