Over 100 tigers rescued from the Tiger Temple of Thailand.
On Monday, the raid led by the Thailand's national park, wildlife and plant conservation department saved the lives of at least 137 tigers from the Wat Pa Luangta Bua Yannasampannoon popularly known among tourists as the 'Tiger Temple'.
The authorities conducting the raid received threats from monks and the police colonel chairman. Although the agencies had court permission to enter the temple premises to rescue the big cats, they faced resistance from the temple authorities. Later, they found that some of the tigers were let loose to hinder their operation.
The Buddhist temple faces allegations of mistreatment of its tigers. Even though it was granted a zoo licence in April, the raid was conducted a month after. Most of the tigers were tranquillised and taken away between Monday and Tuesday.
1. Sedated tiger being taken out on stretcher
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A sedated tiger is stretchered as officials start moving tigers from Thailands controversial Tiger Temple, a popular tourist destination which has come under fire in recent years over the welfare of its big cats in Kanchanaburi province, west of Bangkok, Thailand. (Photo courtesy - Reuters)
2. Weapons being prepared for sedation
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Officials prepare weapons with a sedation as they start moving tigers from the controversial Tiger Temple. (Photo courtesy - Reuters)
3. Sedated tiger being stretchered out
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Officials start moving tigers from the Tiger Temple. (Photo courtesy - Reuters)
4. Officials taking the sedated tiger out
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A sedated tiger is stretchered and taken from the Tiger Temple. (Photo courtesy - Reuters)
5. A Buddhist monk walks past a tiger
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A Buddhist monk walks past a tiger before officials start moving them. (Photo courtesy - Reuters)
6. A tiger yawns prior to the move
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A tiger yawns before the officials start moving them. (Photo courtesy - Reuters)
