Tiger Temple

Tiger Temple Thailand
Monks and tigers
one place I have not been to but would love to go and see is the Tiger temple run by Monks, as a refuge for tigers and other animals such as deer,Gibbons and elephants.
It received its first tiger cubs in 1999 since then it has received tigers injured by poachers and other sources.
With estimates of Thailand tigers between 150-500 a reserve such as this one is long overdue,intentions have been raised to place some of these tigers back into the wild however with the close relationship that they the tigers have with their handlers and visitors that may not be viable.
The park is run on entrance fees which is 300 baht for tourists and donations.They are fed
cooked chicken, beef and dry cat food not exactly wild game but they look healthy enough.
You can have a photo taken with a tiger,sitting with the tiger or have its head in your lap not a opportunity you will find at any other wild life sanctuary.
The abbot (head monk) seems capable of settling them down if they get too excited,nice to know if you happen to be sitting on one.
A larger park is in development that will allow the tigers to roam freely with less human interaction.
The park opens at 1pm the tigers are walked to a quarry and return at 4pm you can wander with them down there and back and watch them do their thing at the quarry such as sleeping.
From what I have heard they charge a good price for a photo so take your own camera although the money goes to a good cause.
The Tiger park is a couple of hours drive from Bangkok and not far from the bridge over the river Kwai so you could do them both on the same day.
Well worth the trip and something cool to show the folks back home and no doubt a great experience as well more importantly you will helping a endangered species.