Thailand Tiger Temple To Face Charges Over 40 Dead Cubs
MEP: Thailand’s controversial “tiger temple” is due to face fresh criminal charges after 40 dead cubs found in a freezer and some live animals in the grounds, wildlife authorities said.
The discovery came during a week-long effort to relocate 137 tigers from the tourist site in Kanchanaburi province.
Authorities stormed the kitchen facilities Wednesday after receiving a tip from a temple worker about the secret carcass stash. They also found the body of a Binturong, a protected species commonly known as a bear-cat, and a number of animal organs.
Now, national parks official Adisorn Noochdumrong says the temple operators could face criminal charges for storing the cub carcasses without permission, according to AFP.
Operators at Wat Pha Luang Ta Bua temple complex deny all allegations and have resisted previous attempts to remove the tigers.
Police Col Bandith Meungsukhum told AFP the cubs would have been one or two days old, but it was not clear how long they had been dead.
They will be DNA tested to see whether they were related to other tigers at the site.
