Wat Pa Luangta Bua Yanasampanno, known colloquially as the Tiger Temple in Kanchanaburi, must give up its 147 tigers to the Department of National Park, Wildlife and Plant Conservation by Friday, the department chief says.
Nipon Chotiban said yesterday the department has told the temple to hand over the tigers, or risk having them seized. The department has a legitimate role to take care of wildlife, not the temple, he said.
The department first announced the seizure of 10 tigers kept at the temple about a decade ago because the temple had no permit to keep them.
However, officials then asked the temple to help take care of the animals instead of taking them back. Mr Nipon said he did not know why the authorities wanted the temple to take care of the tigers.
He said the number of tigers has since increased from 10 to 147, and the temple has no permits to keep them. The department now wants it to hand them over.
Mr Nipon issued the order after his officials raided the temple in February due to complaints the temple was linked to wildlife trafficking and possible maltreatment of the animals. The outcome of the investigation has yet to be released.
He said staff plan to transfer the confiscated tigers to the Khao Pra Thap Chang Wildlife Breeding Centre in Chom Bung district and Khao Son Wildlife Breeding Centre in Suan Phung district in Ratchaburi province.
Former department chief Damrong Pidech once tried to move the tigers to the wildlife breeding centre, but failed due to strong protests by the temple.