Thailand's infamous tiger temple loses its big cats

You will no longer be able to see tigers at the famous Tiger Temple in Thailand after it came to light that the monks of the temple were engaging in illegal breeding and trafficking of the animals.

Moreover, the monks have also been accused of abusing the animals by not taking proper care of the endangered species. According to animal activists in the country, the tigers were under-fed. 

However, temple authorities have denied the allegations. The monks had been protesting attempts to remove the tigers from the temple, but have withdrawn the agitation after a court issued orders against them.

The temple has around 137 tigers, out of which six have already been moved out of the temple. The rest are being transported to government-run animal centres across the country. According to the director of Thailand's Wildlife Conservation Office, Teunjai Noochdumrong, three tigers were tranquillized and transported on 30 May in an operation involving about 1,000 state personnel.

The operation is expected to continue for a week longer.