(Thailand) Tiger Temple 2010

[Guest guest]

(FORWARD)

 

Sybelle Foxcroft sent a message to the members of Behind the Cloak of Buddha.

 

http://www.careforthewild.comTigerTemplereport08_final_v11.pdf

 

Sybelle FoxcroftApril 21, 2010 at 4:43am

 

Tiger Temple 2010

 

Hello All

 

I have just got back from Thailand after getting inside the Tiger Temple to

check on the tigers and other animals.

As the information from the 'Behind the Cloak of Buddha' was mostly gathered

during the years of 2007 - 2009, I felt it would be more accurate, up to date

and to give everyone the picture that is evolving in this place.

 

Between 1999 - 2008 this place has been the death of many tigers, the inbreeding

and breeding for greed, and the abuse of these magnificent tigers, along with

lions, moon bear, leopard and the other animals damned in this place.

 

One tiger I became extremely close to was named Harnfa, a beautiful

Bengal/Indochinese cross.

The has never been a time where I have forgotten him, or any of the other tigers

in this place.

 

Over the last two years, fear kept me from going back into this place, due to

the fact that they are corrupt, threatening and vindictive. With the help of two

dear friends, I went inside the temple to find out who was alive and who was

missing.

 

The information again is tragic.

 

Not only has the world watched the most famous wildlife trading place in the

world begin and grow, I can now tell you that the garish monolith that the

temple claims is 'tiger island' can only be likened to the makings of a tiger

farm.

 

All remnants of the past horrendous facilities have been torn down, and replaced

by lines of cage upon cage of tigers, now numbering 65 and growing.

 

About 20 tigers are on display for the public, however it was the fact that only

2 known tigers from 2007 were on display, disturbed me greatly. Some of the

temple staff had claimed that there were 54 tigers, but no one ever saw them.

Where were they all.

 

I went into the temple to find them, and I found those that are left.

 

Not one tiger has lived past 10 years old. There are 3 original tigers left, but

they are in such incredibly horrendous states that they will not live much

longer.

 

I watched the shockingly fragile Sangtewan, sprawled on the cement floor with 4

tiny cubs, 2 days old. Sangtewan is bones.

 

The cages themselves are the same cement boxes shown in the 2007 photographs of

the newer cages, however instead of one tiger in each of these cramped and

desolate cells, there are up to 3 tigers in some, 2 in others, but all living a

horrendous life.

 

And I found my Harnfa (renamed to Mek) He still has his marvellous blue/green

eyes, he still carries himself with as the gentle but strong giant is always

was, but at nearly 5 years of age, he resembles a tiger of 18 years of age.

 

Hernfa - the tiger with his head yanked up and down for tourists - is hagged,

pacing, and nearly unrecognisable to his former self.

 

There is not enough cages for the amount of tigers there now, and when that used

to happen before, that was when the trades occurred.

 

From statistics and information gathered, tourism is still high, however not as

high as it used to be. But even more alarming is the fact that Australians are

the most frequent tourists to this place.

 

The word must get out, we cannot allow this place to grow silently into a bigger

monster than it already is. Please spread the word, and please sign the

petition.

 

Over the coming weeks I will post the photographs, and the continuing story.

 

Sybelle