Two injured baby tigers were found in a forest in Thailand and brought to the Bhuddist temple Wat Pha Luang, where monks cared for them. Since then, many orphaned baby tigers have been brought there and raised by the monks. The temple tigers are tame and eat only cooked meat to avoid developing a taste for blood. The temple has become a sanctuary for animals and is open for tourists to visit and photograph the tigers, with donations accepted.

1. The Temple of Tigers In 1999 the inhabiatants of a little village in the province of Kanchanaburi, Thailand, found in the forest two injured baby tigers whose parents had been killed by poachers Cliquez.

2. Not knowing what to do with them, they took them to the Bhuddist temple Wat Pha Luang where they were housed and cared for by the monks The temple tigers wake to see the day

3. Since then, many orphaned baby tigers have been taken there and raised by the monks

5. The tigers are tame and used to eating only cooked meat in order to avoid them developing a taste for blood They are treated like members of the temple family

6. Phra Acham Phusit (Founder of the Tiger Temple)

12. It is a communal place considered a sanctuary for animals and preservation centre

14. The temple is open to tourists

15. The employees keep the tigers under control and are ready to intervene if they become agitated

16. The visitors are invited to leave a donation if they wish to be photgraphed with the tigers

21. It is the only place in the world where it is possible to pat free tigers

25. JM - 27 Août 2008