Wat Pa Luang ta Mahabua Yannosampanno Reviews

My visit to the Tiger Temple in Thailand, was a dream finally realised!

I was extremely skeptical about this temple at first, after reading very negative reports about the tigers being drugged and abused, but after spending as much time as I did here, and by putting my investigative journalistic skills to maximum use, I discovered these reports were unfounded, and totally false. These tigers are definitely NOT drugged!

The Temple is a Theravada Buddhist temple, located in the Sai Yok district of Thailand s Kanchanaburi province, not far from the border with Myanmar. It was founded in 1994, as a forest temple and sanctuary for orphaned wild animals, including tigers, deer, peacock, hornbills, water buffalo, cows, goats, horses and boars. However, the greatest attraction here is the tigers, with the majority being Indochinese tigers. The original tigers here, had been orphaned newborn cubs, abandoned in the jungles by their mothers, and some of their siblings, eaten up by older tigers.

After a huge lunch of cooked chicken, these beauties are brought to a specially created area within the temple grounds, with soft sand and a large pond, complete with a waterfall, for their afternoon nap. Visitors are allowed to walk them on a leash, into this area.

This is when the tigers are most peaceful, lazy and sleepy, after a good lunch. This is the reason many visitors here think they are drugged, but they are definitely not.

These tigers are quite used to interacting with humans, and couldn't care less for inquisitive visitors like myself, who want to stroke and cuddle them. Many want to be photographed with a sleeping tiger s head on their lap. And tigers are far too lazy and sleepy to be bothered by us. However, they are chained for a while, as a precautionary measure, when human visitors are around, because some tend to annoy them unnecessarily.

The younger ones love to have their bellies tickled, and the moment you approach them, they promptly roll over with all fours in the air (just like my doggies at home do). This is to let you know, it's 'belly scratch time'. They absolutely love this, and fall asleep upside down!

After nap time is over, they are freed from all chains, and allowed to play with each other freely. Humans can watch from within the safety of a huge cage, because when these tigers play, they play VERY rough. This is also how they get their daily exercise.

Several attempts by the Buddhist monks to release these domesticated tigers in the jungles had failed, since many have not survived the harsh conditions of the wilds, and hence unable to fend for themselves. Others, like all domesticated pets, had found their way back home , to the temple.

I was told that approximately 14 metric tons of chicken, are required every month, to feed these tigers. They are also given vitamin supplements and annual medical checkups (This is the ONLY time they are sedated- for the annual medical checkup). Hence, they depend heavily on donations, the fees charged at the gate and other additional fees for various programmes organised for tourists. During the tourist off-season the temple is in the red!

All in all, I left the Tiger Temple happy, and relieved that the horror stories I had read about it, were all baseless and totally false.

The animals are running low. The staff are very welcoming.

Very sad display of gorgeous animals being exploited.

What started out as a hidden sanctuary, was soon "discovered" and overrun by greedy businessmen. This was not a good thing and it needed to be dealt with. However, ...

I find it typical that the bad reviews, from all the SJWs, demonstrate how clueless these people truly are. THE TEMPLE HAS BEENS CLOSED FOR A COUPLE YEARS NOW !!! NO TIGERS AT THE TEMPLE !!!

One of the most sadly ironic "reviews" is from Dominik K:

Dominik K
6 months ago
they kill Tiger.. we need save this animals.

SAVE !?!

The sad irony is that, since the "success" of closing down the place, and the tigers being removed, the majority of those tigers have died! Their "saviours" didn't have the means to care for them!

And, with lack of revenues, the animals that are left, running free, need to fend for themselves, along with the help of some donations.

Feeling better now?

I still can go inside, yhere are monks live in there, but it's abit old and seem to have nobody take care after the Arbot passed away.

The experience was nice, but i think its sad for the tigers. I had double feelings.

Avoid absolutely unless you like to see animals under seal to be able to walk next to them and take pictures of them.
The baby is not under seal but its mistreatment (blow with sticks, pull by a leash while the baby growls and tries to defend ...)
1 star because thank you google we can not put zero star ......
When will a closure

Now the rest of the animals .. very shortage of food.

Can't go in Pushing up the entrance fees again We are Thai people, Buddhists. That he passed by and visited him and brought his wife to pay homage to the monks Must turn to sin, damn (in the heart), Wat Haowai Wawa, to make merit There is also this. Do not make ... and go back and go.

Doesn't look like species-appropriate keeping to me. they seem to be on drugs. not recommendable

great place in the past with tigers. There are no tigers like 3 years already, only 1 Lev remained on the territory, horses, many wild pigs and buffaloes. Territory in terrible condition.

Tiger Temple has a well documented long history of Animal exploitation for profit, there are serious allegations of abuse and possible drugging of tigers at the temple.they have no interest in tiger conservation.

Any place where you can get close to wild animals is a sign of severe animal abuse. Please don t support this kind of tourism, do your research and find other ways to enjoy your trip, and support the local people.

Disgusting!! This is not temple but grave for tigers. Tigers are such beautiful creatures, I love them!! Why would anyone want to pay and see them in grief. Please allow them to live freely in jungle :(

Wat Pa Luangta Bua Yannasampanno
(Pa Luang temple, find Bua Yan Samphan)

Uses the temple to do ilegal trafficking with tiger sking, bones and other parts of the lion, ite not a "temple anymore" dont help this "monk" they are not doing anything good here its just about the money

So called Buddhists abusing ,drugging ,beating and illegally trading tigers ,animals need to be seized and given to foundations that care and not exploited for cash , shame on the human excrement in orange robes they deserve the same treatment and abuse they dish out daily to these once noble creatures

Lovely place. Had a wonderful experience with tigers. Once in lifetime opportunity

People who haven't went there , please don't comment just because it's in hype...
Maybe this is the only way that these animals can survive ...
You know ... Keeping these animals in wild .. they are being hunted and poached ...
They are atleast safe here ...
And some people say that the tigers have been drugged ... It's not true ...

But didn't go to the temple, waiting for the guests outside, the messenger should be free

Never going there again. Tigers are meant for the wild.

Some tigers look very thin. But many are fat, complete, perfect Gave barking food And walk to see animals freely Regret about the smell

Really amazing place where monks have helped orphaned tiger cubs (and a multitude of other animals).

If you are in doubt, watch the documentary "The Monk and the Tiger".

Going in and touching the tigers is an amazing experience. Definitely worth it. The staff is really prepared to handle situations. Outside they give away free noodles, in exchange for a small donation. That was the best food I had in Thailand.

A wonderful place that offers animals a new and species-appropriate home. I take my hat off to all carers and those who support this park. You are doing the right thing!

Not a good place to visit...using animals for people's own sake is not good...tigers r not tamed...if you look at them you can feel like either they r sleeping or their eyes r drowsy don't know why...they tie with a chain... animals must stay in forest,they must be free...

Good place that we can have chance to touch tigers and take photos with them, nice experience in Thailand 2013

Don't bother visiting before Midday as the tigers aren't released until then and access to the park is only for Thai people. The charge for foreigners is a minimum 600 Baht after Midday.

Please never go there. It is closed. Bad treatment and tigers trade. Shame.

Not worth spending a full day and going all the way to see few tigers sleeping.. Won't recommend ....

Awesome. Big tigers, little tigers, tigers exercise - all of that must be seen. 600 batt entrance. We paid 1000batt for privat photo with the tigers. 500 batt for for the tigers exercises show :-)

Seen report on Tv about that place. It's a disgrace, dirty with mistreated animals. Tourits rip-off!

Tiger Temple, one of the must-visit places when visiting Thailand. Allow yourself to be near these beautiful animals for at least a moment and feel all the strength and power of their nature with your touch.

Wretched Buddhist monks: Thailand Tiger Temple: Forty dead cubs found in freezer.
This system needs negative stars.

I was there 2.5 years ago but now I heard it is closed.

Past merit making merit
Feed animals There are a lot of animals such as pigs, cows, deer.
Tame animals can bring vegetables, fruits, and animal food.

Why are the monks in this Temple not arrested for animal cruelty?

Sad looking place now but a good thing that the tiger trade was brought to a halt.

Disgusting place. Never visit it.Set those poor animals free

Abused animals! YOU CAN APPROACH A WILD ANIMAL ONLY IF IT IS DRUGED !!!! KNOW IT

After the visit, this place has been closed, and all right and wrong have passed. No tiger temple ever again

This place is brimming with cruelty, I have seen pictures and video of the workers hitting the tigers in the head with rocks, hitting them with fists in the head. They breed tigers for money so tourists will visit. They do not care about the tigers. Please help get this hell on earth for tigers closed. Please read Behind the cloak of Buddha

What horrors that these inhumane filth brought upon these wonderful beasts. I hope they get what they deserve and some.

If you care about animals, don't come here and promote their horrible mistreatment.

I feel full of merit that I have come to feed the wildlife. But the source here is, I want to meet the tiger Met only a lion instead

Look what happens behind the scenes... Don't support this temple of animal abuse and trafficking.

You are all fake monks and bastard that abuse animals!

Tigers should not be locked up to serve peoples needs they belong in the wild

Stop supporting the drugging of tigers for human entertainment. Stop supporting the black trade market of these animals. Do your research before visiting this he'll on earth. Human entitlement at its fonest

No Tiger dere ... Not need go dere ... looks not nice ... Nothing to see ... No more tigers there ... Doesn't look good ... This place is over

A life time experince to get that close with tigers. Recommended.

epic fail. is this true about all of the dead baby tigers? shame. shame on you, shame on your temple, shame on everything you stand for.

I've seen horrible, gruesome, cruel, and inhumane treatment of these animals at this ... Whatever they call themselves. They BEAT the animals mercilessly for no reason. Punch them, kick them, any kind of demoralization they can think of. PLEASE don't pay money to see their sideshow, the results of their abuse.

Awful, tigers suffer, drugged up so tourists can "play" with them. DO NOT PAY THEM ANY MONEY, tigers sold off to black market trade.

There are a lot of deer in the temple, wild boars, cows, and lions that are very tame. Because not many people come to make merit Song of the monks in the temple is peacefully Very admirable I'm free when I have to visit again.

Good thing that this place got closed. You could see that the tigers where drugged so the people could come near them and take photos.

The tigers have not been here for two years, they were moved to another place.

Beautiful temple with lions, heard now it's closed.

Awesome place, I loved that your inside the park with the animals roaming around freely. Lots of other animals to see as well as the beautiful tigers.

Any place that treats animals like garbage should be burned to the ground and all those involved in their exploitation thrashed and thrown into jail for life. Or better yet - FED TO THE TIGERS. On the other hand, the tigers might not be able to digest trash. Despicable place, disgusting, greedy, inhuman people.

Today I just came for the first time. Access is free of gluten There are a lot of young animals, including elephants, wild boars and deer. There are lions, too, in a narrow cage. Really, the temple is very big. All the traces of the building But like ceasing to build and care Very quiet now Please help raise the children. Really a lot Some of them are thin, see the ribs. Really very young
I want to continue to take care of the temple to prosper again Will be very good
"Let's help feed the younger ones"
Entrance free, You do not need to buy a ticket. There are a lots of animal such as pig, horse, donkey and dear. They are so friendly to people. However it was a pity. The animal have an inadequate take care because the owner was pass away and nobody take over it. Now the animal is hungry. Please come here to feed them. They are waiting for you

An evil hell hole for animals to be drugged, die or be killed and trafficked. Shut it down!

Sorry but tigers are not meant to live like this. Wish I could give it no stars

I was going to give it 5-stars but decided to make it 4 because while every animals in there looks healthy, happy, well fed, and well cared, the bears (3 moon bears) look miserable in a 10mx10m cage and a small puddle infested by algae (its dark green water..)...

The tigers are highlight so its well taken cared but the rest of the folks except the bears while doesnt require much grooming and no audiences, they have freedom to roam freely everywhere.

Thai national: 300
Foreigner: 600
As a part of the price u get photos (using ur own devices and with guides) with approx. 6-8 tigers...and extra activities like milk feeding costs 1000

In additional, there are deers, buffaloes, turkey, bears, boars, and cows.

I hope you end up like the tigers. Broken in their spirits and bodies. Do Monks believe in Karma?

There are no tigers to watch for over two years. 20 Dec 60