The Temple of Tigers is a Buddhist temple in Thailand that has become a sanctuary for orphaned baby tigers. Villagers found two injured tiger cubs in 1999 whose parents had been killed by poachers and brought them to the temple to be cared for by the monks. Since then, many other orphaned cubs have been brought there and raised by the monks. The tigers are treated like members of the temple family and are tame, eating only cooked meat to avoid developing a taste for blood. The temple has become a preservation center for animals and is open for tourists to visit and photograph the tigers, with donations accepted. It is the only place where people can pet free tigers.

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